Grand Synagogue of Peace
The Grand Synagogue of Peace is Strasbourg's main Jewish place of worship, on the edge of the Contades park in the Neustadt. Inaugurated in 1958, it replaced the Quai Kléber synagogue destroyed by the Nazis in 1940. Its post-war architecture, officially recognised for its heritage value, makes it a meaningful stop for understanding the city's 20th-century history.
The memory of Quai Kléber
Until the Second World War, Strasbourg's great consistorial synagogue stood on Quai Kléber, by the water. Opened at the end of the 19th century, it was looted and then set on fire by the Nazis in September 1940, shortly after Alsace was annexed in all but name. After the war, the community chose to rebuild elsewhere, in the Contades district. The Synagogue of Peace thus carries both the memory of that destruction and of the revival that followed.
A post-war building site
Work began on 23 August 1954 and the synagogue was inaugurated and consecrated on 23 March 1958. The winning competition design came from the architect Claude Meyer-Lévy, assisted by Jean-Paul Berst and René Heller. The building holds the "20th-century Heritage" label, now called "Remarkable Contemporary Architecture", which recognises high-quality recent buildings. It remains one of Strasbourg's key examples of religious architecture from the reconstruction years.
Twelve columns for twelve tribes
The plan is basilican. In the main hall, twelve concrete columns stand for the twelve tribes of Israel. The facade is recognisable by its star-shaped openwork screen above the portal. The ironwork is by Gilbert Poillerat, and the curtain of the Holy Ark is an Aubusson tapestry made from a design by Jean Lurçat. The hall can hold more than 1,600 worshippers and has a liturgical organ.
A living centre beside the Contades
The synagogue is more than a monument: it also houses a community centre, the seat of Strasbourg's Jewish community and of the Grand Rabbinate of Bas-Rhin. It is bounded by Avenue de la Paix, Rue du Grand-Rabbin-René-Hirschler and Rue de Turenne, in a quiet residential district. The nearby Contades park offers a green break. As at any active place of worship, discretion and respect for security rules are expected.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the Grand Synagogue of Peace?
On Avenue de la Paix in the Neustadt, on the edge of the Contades park, a few minutes' walk from Place de la République.
Why was it built in the 1950s?
To replace the consistorial synagogue on Quai Kléber, looted and burned by the Nazis in September 1940. It was inaugurated on 23 March 1958.
Can you visit it?
It is an active place of worship with security rules. Contact the community before you come; the facade can be seen freely from Avenue de la Paix.
What is there to do nearby?
Stroll through the Contades park, then head to Place de la République and the grand avenues of the Neustadt.
Wikimedia Commons — Photo Claude TRUONG-NGOC · Wikimedia Commons — Ikar.us
