The former synagogue at 4 Łazienkowa Street in Kępno has been reopened to the public after years of neglect. Today, this historic building functions as the Synagogue Centre. Thanks to meticulous work completed in May 2025, it was raised from ruins, with its façade renovated and its interior adapted to serve new cultural and social functions.
The synagogue in Kępno and its new functions after renovation
The building of the former synagogue is one of the most valuable preserved examples of sacred architecture in the entire Greater Poland region. The classicist form of the house of prayer is distinguished by its impressive composition, delicate details and perfect proportions. The work to save the ruined monument had many dimensions. The most important of these was, of course, the architectural aspect, but the introduction of new functions gave the building a new lease of life. After the renovation was completed, it was made available to the local community and institutions operating in the fields of education, culture and social integration. The space of the Kępno synagogue began to serve as a venue for meetings, events and activities of various kinds.
Renovation of the monument and revitalisation of Kępno
The modernisation and renovation of the synagogue is part of the programme to revitalise the Kępno market square and its surroundings, implemented as part of the Local Revitalisation Programme for the Town and Municipality of Kępno for 2017-2023. The entire project was co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund under the Wielkopolska Regional Operational Programme 2014-2020. The project included four important public spaces: the former synagogue, Starościański Park, Municipal Park and the Local Government Public Library. The total value of the investment exceeded PLN 22 million, a significant part of which was EU funding.
Scope of renovation works
The contract for the renovation of the building was signed in 2021 with INTRAVI, and the investment was carried out on a “design and build” basis. The synagogue was entered in the register of monuments as early as 1968, but it was not possible to prevent its significant deterioration. During the works, the historic façade was reconstructed and the interior was adapted to new functions. The barrel vault above the main hall was restored, the walls were reinforced, the cellars were deepened and the damaged parts of the building were repaired. The roofing was also replaced, oak window frames were installed, and new installations and finishes were added. Inside, a multifunctional hall with a large stage, balcony and technical facilities was created. The building is adapted to the needs of people with disabilities, and its surroundings are no longer intimidating.
The synagogue in Kępno and its history
The history of the synagogue in Kępno began in 1674. It was then that the local Jewish community obtained the privilege of building houses, a synagogue and a bathhouse. With the development of the community, a separate district, commonly known as Kamchatka, was formed, centring the religious and social life of this community. The first wooden temple was built at the end of the 17th century, while the current brick building dates back to 1814-1815. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, it underwent renovations, including in 1893 and 1926, adapting it to the current needs of the faithful.
The synagogue in Kępno and its history are closely linked to the tragic fate of the town’s Jewish inhabitants during World War II. During the German occupation, the Jewish community was liquidated and its several hundred members were displaced and persecuted. This led to the disappearance of the centuries-old Jewish presence in Kępno. Their house of prayer lost its sacred function and also fell victim to German hatred. It was desecrated and significantly vandalised, and its prayer equipment was destroyed. After 1945, only a few people of Jewish origin returned to Kępno, so the community was not revived. The synagogue, which was no longer needed, served as a warehouse for many years, until it was destroyed by fire in 1973. The fire caused the roof to collapse and completely destroyed what remained of the interior. Later work in the late 1980s only secured the burnt walls, and it was only the most recent renovation that restored the building to use. Now it is also a symbolic reminder of the former community of Kępno.
Source: Kępno Town Hall, sztetl.org
See also:Monument|Architecture in Poland|Sacred architecture | whiteMAD on Instagram|Renovation
