Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The synagogue of Reims, located at 49 rue Clovis, was inaugurated in 1879 in a neo-Mauresque architectural style, marked by overarching arches and an orientalist interior decoration. His architect, Ernest Brunette, son of Narcisse Brunette (reputable architect of the city), designed a facade adorned with a star rose of David and a Hebrew inscription from Genesis (28:17). Inside, the stained glass and wall motifs are the work of the local artist Marquant-Fogel, while a romantic organ, directed by Augustin Brisset in 1901, embellishes the offices. The synagogue, originally of Ashkenazi rite, is today a sefarade rite, reflecting the evolution of the remise Jewish community, mostly from North Africa since the 1960s.

The Jewish community of Reims, attested since the 11th century, experienced periods of expulsion (notably in the 14th century) before recovering from the 18th century. The influx of Jews from Alsace-Lorraine after 1870 motivated the construction of this synagogue, replacing a small oratory. In 1949, a commemorative stele was erected in front of the building in memory of the 253 deportees from the area, with a Hebrew inscription extracted from the Lamentations (5:16). Classified as a Historic Monument in 1989, the synagogue has also been home to a mikve since 1991 and participates in Heritage Days. Its atypical orientation (west-southwest) and its two Law Tables make it a unique building in the Champagne religious landscape.

The organ of the synagogue, restored in 2013, is the only instrument still standing in Reims signed by local organist Augustin Brisset. Its 14 games spread over two keyboards and a pedal boat make it a rare testimony of romantic aesthetics. The stained glass windows, created by Pierre-Adhémar Marquant-Vogel (1828–1992), complement this artistic heritage. The synagogue remains an active place of worship, despite a small community, and a symbol of Jewish resilience in Champagne. Its centenary, celebrated in 1979, marked its lasting anchor in remise history.

The Jewish presence in Reims is part of a broader regional history, with synagogues in Châlons-en-Champagne, Épernay and Vitry-le-François. The Israelite square of local cemeteries and the commemorative stele recall the persecutions suffered during the Second World War. Today, the synagogue of Reims, with its architecture and cultural role, embodies both a centuries-old heritage and renewed community vitality.

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