The year 2022 marks the 10th anniversary of Jewish Heritage Europe. The theme of our birthday celebrations is the “Anniversary of Anniversaries” — that is, using JHE’s own anniversary to feature other significant or symbolic anniversaries.
Here, we highlight the 140th anniversary of the Great Synagogue in Bordeaux, France.
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A series of events in November and December will mark the 140th anniversary of the Great Synagogue in Bordeaux, a grand edifice inaugurated September 5, 1882 and designed by the architect Charles Durand in an eclectic style that mixed Medieval European and Moorish influences. It has been listed as a historic monument since 1998.
The anniversary program, organized by the Jewish community and regional Consistoire, includes a film presentation, a special Shabbat celebration, concerts, an exhibition, and other events — some free and some accessible with tickets.
The synagogue, one of the largest in France, replaced an earlier, smaller, synagogue, which had burned down in 1873. According to an article by Haim F. Ghiuzeli for the ANU museum web site, Durand finalized an original plan for the synagogue by Andre Burguet, who died in 1879.
The general design of the synagogue reflects the ideas of Andre Burguet, an architect whose approach favored combining elements typical of the Romanesque and Byzantine art, an eclectic style that was fashionable with many synagogue builders all over Western and Central Europe during the latter part of the 19th century. Burguet’s design comprises two symmetrical towers situated at the flanks of the western façade, strongly evocative of the bell towers found in Christian churches.
The towers were eventually kept by the second architect, despite opposition from certain members of the community, who believed that the building of the new synagogue was too similar to a church. Charles Durand added a touch of Orientalism to the original design and also created an impressive perspective towards the western façade from the adjacent street.
The facade of the synagogue is marked by the two side towers and three central portals on the ground floor, topped by pointed, gothic-style arches similar to those seen in many churches. Above the portals is a row of five large, narrow, vertical windows topped by neo-Moorish-style round openings.
The interior is extremely elaborate and employs many symbolic elements in the decoration.
According to Ghiuzeli, one aspect is unique:
Of special importance among the many decorative elements is the Magen David (The Star of David). In fact, the synagogue of Bordeaux was the first synagogue in France to display this motif. It can be found in many places, both at the exterior of the building, on the western façade, just under the Tablets of Law, and at the interior where it features on the floor, on the stained glass windows and on some arches.
The synagogue was devastated during World War II, but was fully restored in the 1950s.
See the program here — or below:
Click to read the architectural description by Haim F. Ghiuzeli
Click to see an architectural drawing and photo during construction of the synagogue
Click to access the program on the Consistoire web site