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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Besançon Synagogue, built between 1867 and 1870 by architect Pierre Marnotte, replaces a first place of worship that has become too small for a Jewish community to grow. Inaugurated on 18 November 1869, it embodies a rare Hispano-Mauresque style in France, directly inspired by the Cordoba Mosque and the Alhambra in Granada. Its architecture, marked by minarets, domes and star windows, makes it an emblematic building of the Battant district.

Financed by private donations, including 20,000 francs offered by the Veil-Picard family, the synagogue was preserved during World War II thanks to the intervention of a German commander who turned it into a warehouse. After 1945, it became the heart of a Jewish community renewed by the arrival of North African Sefarades in the 1960s, gradually replacing the historical Ashkenaz rite.

Classified as a historical monument in 1984, the synagogue remains an active place of worship and a unique architectural testimony. Open to the public at European Heritage Days, it attracts thousands of visitors every year. Its furniture, including a richly decorated holy arch and stained glass with geometric motifs, reflects the orientalist influence of the 19th century. The Jewish bisontine community, though small, perpetuates liturgical traditions in this exceptional setting.

The building is also linked to prominent figures, such as Rabbi Jacques Auscher, who campaigned for the creation of the Besançon Consistory in 1881, or Adolphe Veil-Picard, a benefactor whose gates surrounding the synagogue still bear inscription. During the occupation, rolls of the Torah were saved thanks to the intervention of Archbishop Maurice-Louis Dubourg and Canon Remillet, hidden in the church of St.Madeleine.

Today, Besançon's synagogue combines historical heritage and community life. Despite declining attendance (about 30 faithful in normal times), it remains a symbol of resilience and cultural diversity. Its night lighting, introduced in 2004, highlights its architectural details, while strict security measures protect the site against contemporary anti-Semitic risks.

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