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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Synagogue des Tournelles, located 21 bis de la rue des Tournelles in the 4th arrondissement of Paris, was built in 1876 by architect Marcellin-Emmanuel Varcollier, student of Louis-Pierre Baltard. It illustrates the architectural innovation of the period thanks to the use of metal, with elements forged by the workshops in Normandy, in collaboration with Gustave Eiffel. The facade, adorned with a rosace window and sculptures representing the tables of the Law, also incorporates the coat of arms of Paris, recalling the financial contribution of the city to its construction.

Inaugurated on September 15, 1876 for the feasts of Tishri, the synagogue was first dedicated to the Ashkenazi rite, welcoming Alsatian, Lorrain and Polish and Russian emigrants. In 1941, she was attacked by the Social Revolutionary Movement (MSR), a far right party. After World War II, it was led by prominent rabbis such as David Feuerwerker (1948-1960), before becoming a place of constant sefarad worship.

Ranked a historic monument in 1987, this synagogue is distinguished by its imposing volume (21 meters wide), its holy arch protected by a double wrought iron door, and its status as the second largest synagogue in Paris after that of the rue de la Victoire. Its peristyle leads to a semicircular nave where the Sifrei Torah are preserved, arranged in half circle. The municipal property, attested by the city's badges on the facade, highlights its anchoring in the Parisian heritage.

The building also reflects the historical tensions of the 20th century, especially during the occupation, while remaining a symbol of the cultural and religious diversity of the Marais. Today, it continues to be an active place of prayer and memory, managed by a succession of rabbis since the 1980s, including Yves-Henri Marciano since 2004.

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