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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Beit Yacov synagogue in Clermont-Ferrand, located at 20 rue des Quatre-Passeports in Fontgiève, was built in 1862 by architect François-Louis Jarrier. It bears witness to the historical presence of the Jewish community in Auvergne. Its sober architecture, with a stone façade of Volvic, reflects local traditions while integrating symbolic elements, such as the inscription Temple above the gate.

Inaugurated in 1862, the synagogue functioned as a place of worship until 1963, when it closed because of its degraded state. Disused in 1966, it was sold in 1978 to a Masonic obedience, which transformed it deeply before reselling it in 1990. That year, Edmond Safra, a philanthropist, bought her back to the Jewish community. She was then renamed Beit Yacov in tribute to her father, Jacob Safra.

Since 2006, the synagogue has been included in the additional inventory of historical monuments for its architecture and memorial role. After a complete restoration, it reopened in 2013 as the Jules Isaac Cultural Centre, managed by the Holocaust Memorial. This place is now dedicated to the preservation of Jewish memory in Auvergne, to the tribute to the Righteous among the Nations of the region, and to the teaching of this story to the younger generations.

The interior, partially preserved, includes protected elements such as the Holy Ark, integrated in woodwork on two levels, and a stage. Although the place of worship was transferred in 1966 to 6 Blatin Street, the old synagogue remains a strong symbol of the Clermont Jewish heritage. Its evolution, from religious to museum space, illustrates the changes in the community and its anchoring in the local heritage.

The Beit Yacov synagogue thus embodies a century and a half of history, marking both the cultural identity of the Jews of Auvergne and the contemporary efforts to perpetuate their memory. Its registration as a historical monument and its conversion into a cultural centre make it both a heritage and a living site open to the public and researchers.

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