By a decision of the Wielkopolska Regional Monument Conservator, the former New Synagogue in Poznań, which for years served as the city’s swimming pool, was officially entered in the register of monuments. This step marks a very important stage in the fight to preserve one of the most valuable traces of Jewish heritage in the capital of Wielkopolska.
The building had been listed in the municipal register of monuments for years, but only now has it gained real legal protection. The entry includes the most valuable preserved architectural elements of the building, such as the remains of the vaults, fragments of the original walls and details.
The New Synagogue and its history
The New Synagogue was built in 1907 to a design by the Berlin architectural firm of Cremer & Wolffenstein on the corner of Wroniecka and Stawna Streets. The building was characterised by a monumental dome and architecture combining Romanesque style with oriental motifs. The building seated 1,200 people and was one of the most impressive synagogues in the region. After the German army entered Poznań in 1939, the synagogue was deprived of its religious function. In 1940, the devastated building was converted into a swimming pool and rehabilitation centre for Wehrmacht soldiers. At that time, all religious elements were removed, the dome was destroyed, the interior was rebuilt and the layout of the windows and doorways was changed. The synagogue then acquired its present appearance.
Post-war fate and struggle for memory
After the end of the Second World War, the building was renovated and served as the municipal swimming pool for the following decades. In 2002, it passed into the hands of the Union of Jewish Religious Communities of the Republic of Poland, and was closed in 2011 due to its poor technical condition. Since then, the building has remained unused, except for occasional cultural events. In recent years, there have been controversial plans to convert the building into a hotel or residential space. In view of this, community activists from the Miasteczko Poznań, Lazęga Poznań and Ahawas Tora organisations have initiated efforts to place the monument under conservation protection. They were led by Maciej Krajewski. In February 2024, the Wielkopolska Voivodeship Conservator of Monuments initiated an entry procedure, which blocked the possibility of any adaptation works.
Significance of the entry and subsequent fate of the building
The preservation decision that has just been taken concerns not the whole building, but only the original parts of the synagogue, i.e. those that have survived all the destruction and rebuilding. It emphasises the unique value of the building as a material testimony to the presence of the Jewish community in Poznan. It also pointed out that the Poznań synagogue is one of the few surviving examples of synagogues with a central plan and dome in Central Europe. In the past, the city authorities have shown little interest in the fate of the building. There were even calls for it to be demolished. Meanwhile, the opinions contained in the preservationist’s decision show a substantive advantage of arguments in favour of preservation over concepts of complete reconstruction or demolition. The investor who planned to convert the synagogue into a commercial building can still appeal the decision to the General Conservator of Monuments.
The New Synagogue – the future
The future of the former synagogue remains open. The entry in the register of historical monuments marks a new chapter in its turbulent history. Conservation protection offers hope that the building will be developed in a way worthy of its past and significance. The building has survived the difficult times of the 20th century and can now become a place for reflection, education and a testimony to the multicultural heritage of Poznan.
Source: architekturaibiznes.pl, sztetl.org.pl , jhi.pl
Read also: History | Monument | Poznan | Curiosities | Metamorphosis | Architecture in Poland
The New Synagogue circa 1930 and today. Photo: MKZ in Poznań and Mateusz Markowski/whiteMAD
The synagogue in the 20 years between the wars and in 2020. Photo Source: NAC – National Digital Archive and Mateusz Markowski/whiteMAD
The building in 1915 and 2020. Photo: MKZ in Poznań and Mateusz Markowski/whiteMAD
