The 17th century synagogue in Łęczna, which has stood empty and deteriorating for more than a decade, will be renovated and adapted as an educational and cultural center as part of a broader program to develop the town.
According to the Foundation for the Preservation of Jewish Heritage in Poland (FODZ), the city of Łęczna will receive around €2.7 million (11,372,632.69 zloty) from Lublin province for the third stage of the project “Revitalization of the Old Town in Łęczna.”
Planned work includes conservation and restoration that will improve the technical condition of the building and improve its functionality, FODZ said.
The grounds, which include a memorial made of matzevot, will also be developed, and a museum dedicated to local Jewish history and heritage will be created.
It said, “cultural events will be organized in it [and] the revitalized synagogue will contribute to the activation and integration of residents and an increase in the city’s tourist attractiveness.”
The synagogue in Łęczna was built in 1655. After World War II, the building housed the Regional Museum, which showcased regional history and artifacts as well as important examples of Judaica. The museum moved out, and the building was taken over by FODZ in 2014, and since then it has remained unused.
Take a virtual tour of the synagogue
Read our post from 2013 about the building