Events are being planned to mark the 650th anniversary of the synagogue in Carpentras, France — it dates originally from 1367, making it the oldest synagogue in France and one of the oldest synagogues still in use in Europe. According to French media, the town is allocating €1.2 million to restore the synagogue in time for events including exhibitions and other initiatives marking the anniversary next spring.
The World Monuments Fund, which supported some restoration in 2001, writes:
Fleeing persecution in thirteenth-century France, many Jews sought pontifical protection in Carpentras, which was controlled by the Avignon papacy at this time, and established the synagogue shortly thereafter. It was restored in the eighteenth century by the architect Antoine D’Allemand and updated to reflect contemporary baroque décor.
A monumental stairway leads through from the ground floor to the first floor, belying the synagogue’s modest façade. On the ground floor, the ritual baths (mikveh) and two bakeries represent some of the building’s oldest retained features, while a separate room devoted to Jerusalem also exists within the main prayer space.
The 2001 World Monuments Fund-supported conservation work on the synagogue’s interior included cleaning the plaster on the ceilings and walls replacing the floor tiles. “The stairway was cleaned and its lime pointing repaired, along with a passageway created for a future bookshop. Electrical and lighting systems were brought up to contemporary standards to accommodate modern needs.”
The synagogue is still in occasional use by the small Jewish community in Carpentras, numbering about 200 people.
Click to view the web site of the synagogue
View the World Monuments Fund page on the synagogue
Read an article about the synagogue in The Forward
Download a PDF brochure about the synagogue (in English)