Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Haguenau synagogue, built in 1820 by Léopold, is an example of classical architecture from the first quarter of the 19th century. It is distinguished by its pilaster façade, its entanglement and pediment, as well as its three-ship interior. The building, made of cut stone and honeycomb, is covered with flat tiles. It houses stained glass windows created by Tristan Ruhlmann, placed on both sides of the Holy Ark, offered by the municipality.

The synagogue replaces two earlier buildings, some of which are preserved in the current entrance: commemorative plaques of the synagogues of 1492 and 1683. These remains recall the ancient Jewish presence in Haguenau, attested from the thirteenth century. The medieval Israelite cemetery, located on Rue d'Ivere and still in use, contains about 3,000 graves, the oldest of which dates back to 1654.

Saccaged during the occupation and damaged by a bombardment in 1944, the synagogue was restored in 1959 with its outbuildings. It once housed the Wetzel organ of Benfeld, the first organ installed in a synagogue of Alsace in 1897, now extinct. His remarkable furniture includes fountains of ablutions, a medieval tympanum, Hanouca candlesticks, and commemorative plaques.

Listed in the additional inventory of historical monuments since August 29, 1984, the synagogue of Haguenau illustrates the continuity of one of the oldest Jewish communities in Alsace. Its architecture and history reflect the cultural and religious developments of the region, marked by periods of prosperity and persecution.

The monument also preserves liturgical and artistic objects, such as a bas-relief and a chandelier, while the local historic museum exhibits elements of the Hagenovian Jewish heritage. Rue du Grand-Rabbin-Joseph-Bloch, where the synagogue stands, pays tribute to a major figure in the community.

Historical sources, including the work of Claude Heymann and Robert Weyl, highlight the importance of this place in regional history. The archives also mention influential rabbis, like Joseph Bloch, as well as local artists, like glass painter Tristan Ruhlmann, whose stained glass windows are now enriching the building.

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