Ceremonial Hall, Prague
Just to your left upon exiting the Old Jewish Cemetery stands a structure reminiscent of an ancient castle or stately manor. This is the Ceremonial Hall, prompting curiosity about its history. Regrettably, there's little remarkable tale attached to it.
Constructed in the early 1900s with a striking mock Romanesque design, the hall was entrusted to the Jewish Burial Society. It served as both a ceremonial hall and mortuary, where esteemed members of the Jewish community were prepared for burial. Remarkably, this building was spared by the Nazis during their occupation, earmarked to be part of their envisioned "Museum to an Extinct Race".
Today, under the ownership of the Jewish Museum, the Ceremonial Hall hosts permanent exhibitions. One exhibit focuses on illness, death, and vivid depictions of ancient burial customs, featuring examples of gravestones, tombs, memorials, and donated paintings from the Burial Society. Another exhibit, less somber in tone, forms Part II of the Jewish Customs and Traditions Exhibition (with Part I housed in the nearby Klausen Synagogue). It delves into the everyday lives of Jewish households across centuries, offering intriguing insights into their customs and traditions. It's a fascinating and educational experience, well worth a visit.
Constructed in the early 1900s with a striking mock Romanesque design, the hall was entrusted to the Jewish Burial Society. It served as both a ceremonial hall and mortuary, where esteemed members of the Jewish community were prepared for burial. Remarkably, this building was spared by the Nazis during their occupation, earmarked to be part of their envisioned "Museum to an Extinct Race".
Today, under the ownership of the Jewish Museum, the Ceremonial Hall hosts permanent exhibitions. One exhibit focuses on illness, death, and vivid depictions of ancient burial customs, featuring examples of gravestones, tombs, memorials, and donated paintings from the Burial Society. Another exhibit, less somber in tone, forms Part II of the Jewish Customs and Traditions Exhibition (with Part I housed in the nearby Klausen Synagogue). It delves into the everyday lives of Jewish households across centuries, offering intriguing insights into their customs and traditions. It's a fascinating and educational experience, well worth a visit.
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Ceremonial Hall on Map
Sight Name: Ceremonial Hall
Sight Location: Prague, Czech Republic (See walking tours in Prague)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Prague, Czech Republic (See walking tours in Prague)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Prague, Czech Republic
Create Your Own Walk in Prague
Creating your own self-guided walk in Prague is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
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Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.0 Km or 1.9 Miles
The area is centered around Prague Castle, reportedly the biggest castle complex in the world. Dating back as far as the 9th century, the castle has been the residence of Bohemian kings, Holy Roman emperors, leaders of socialist Czechoslovakia, and currently the... view more
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Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.1 Km or 0.7 Miles
The area breathes history and is a captivating blend of ancient synagogues and other monuments that collectively reflect centuries of Jewish life in the city. Some synagogues are still acting, and others have been converted into art galleries and museums.
One such is the Spanish Synagogue, a... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.1 Km or 0.7 Miles
Prague Introduction Walking Tour
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The Czech name Praha derives from an old Slavic word pr谩h, which means "ford" or "rapid", referring to the city's origin at a crossing point of the Vltava river. The legendary... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.2 Km or 2 Miles
The Czech name Praha derives from an old Slavic word pr谩h, which means "ford" or "rapid", referring to the city's origin at a crossing point of the Vltava river. The legendary... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.2 Km or 2 Miles
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Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.8 Km or 1.7 Miles
The area was once separated from the outside world by a semi-circular moat and a wall, hugged by the Vltava river. The moat is now covered up by streets, which form the official boundary of the Old Town. One of them, called Na P艡铆kop臎 (literally 鈥淥n the... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.8 Km or 1.7 Miles
New Town Walking Tour
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At its heart lies Wenceslas Square, a... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.1 Km or 1.9 Miles
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Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.1 Km or 1.9 Miles
Lesser Town Walking Tour
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Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.9 Km or 2.4 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.9 Km or 2.4 Miles
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