The restoration of the Moorish-style 19th century synagogue in Žatec, a small town 80 km northwest of Prague, is up for a second heritage award this year that you can vote for online — the “Public Award” of the annual Building of the Year award presented by the Czech Foundation for the Development of Architecture and Construction (ABF foundation)
The synagogue is one of 38 Czech finalists for the award as well as two international finalists.
People can also vote online for their favourite building — from the entire list of 110 buildings (ie, finalists and others) not just from the 38 finalists. The voting closes November 23.
The synagogue is Number 6 on the list— click the red button to vote. (You can also vote for the restoration of the Great Synagogue in Pilsen — number 85).
Click here to see the full list and vote
Built in 1871-1872 and designed by the architect Johann Staňek, the synagogue, noted for its two side towers, was burnt out but not destroyed on the so-called Kristallnacht in November 1938. It was used as a military hospital and school during WW2; then as a warehouse.
Long empty and in deteriorating condition, the synagogue and rabbi’s house were bought in 2013 by a private individual, Daniel Černý, who from 2019 oversaw a full-scale renovation of the buildings that was completed in 2022. Most of the €2 million costs of the project were covered with grants from the state and the EU.
The Žatec synagogue is also up for another people’s choice award — one of nearly two dozen projects nominated for the Patrimonium Pro Futuro award, presented by the Culture Ministry’s National Institute Monuments Institute. It honours “positive and successful initiatives in the field of monument preservation completed in the previous year.”
Experts choose the main prize — but the awards also include a Public Thanks Monuments Award — for which people could cast their votes online until September 30. The winner will be announced November 28.
Read our post about the Patrimonium Pro Futuro award