The largest synagogue in Europe was built to look like a mosque

Countries & Cities · Published 12 October 2026 · Updated 25 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Why would a Jewish congregation choose Islamic-inspired architecture for their most monumental building? In the 19th century, architects believed there was no distinctively "Jewish" style. To create a unique identity, they looked toward the Moorish Revival and Romantic Historicist styles of North Africa and medieval Spain.

Completed in 1859, the Dohány Street Synagogue (also known as the Great Synagogue) was designed by Viennese architect Ludwig Förster. Because he believed no specific Jewish architectural language existed, he intentionally selected forms used by "oriental ethnic groups" related to the Israelites—specifically those of the Arabs. This resulted in a striking Moorish Revival aesthetic featuring alternating yellow and red brickwork, twin octagonal towers with onion domes reaching 43 metres, and oriental-style crenellations.

The interior is equally complex, blending Byzantine, Romanesque, and Gothic Revival elements. It features three richly decorated aisles similar to Christian basilicas, but includes an unusual pipe organ—one of the few in the world to house such an instrument. The original 5,000-pipe organ was played by famous musicians like Franz Liszt and Camille Saint-Saëns before being replaced in 1996 by a mechanical organ with 63 voices.

The building's history is marked by profound tragedy and survival. During World War II, it served as a base for German Radio and even an animal stable before suffering severe air raid damage during the Siege of Budapest. In 1944, it became part of the Budapest Ghetto; while Torah law typically forbids burials within city limits, historical circumstances led to the creation of a 3,000 m2 cemetery on-site. Here, roughly 2,000 people who died of hunger and cold during the winter of 1944–1945 were buried in a makeshift grave.

Today, the complex serves as a center for Neolog Judaism and houses the Hungarian Jewish Museum and Archives. The museum was built on the site of Theodor Herzl's birth house. The restoration of the synagogue, completed in 1998, was significantly funded by the Hungarian government and private donations from American celebrities Estée Lauder and Tony Curtis.

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