The Great Synagogue of Stockholm

If you are a religious person, visiting places of worship while travelling is often important... whether to partake in a service, enjoy the beautiful architecture or just soak up the history of your religion. And even if you aren't religious, these sites are often an interesting part of the city's history. While Sweden is mainly a Protestant Christian country, we do also have Muslim mosques, Jewish synagogues and Catholic churches in the city. I often get asked by hotel guests about these, especially during the summer months. While I have already written about the main Catholic church in Stockholm, I thought that it was about time I write about the Great Synagogue as well.

In comparison to countries in many other parts of Europe, Sweden's Jewish history is relatively short, only reaching back as far as the 1600's (though there is evidence of Jewish merchants visiting the area as far back as the Viking Age). However, it is a rich and interesting history! There are several points of interest around Stockholm relating to Swedish Jewish culture and history. But the main site is The Great Synagogue (Stora synagogen), which is located on a side street in downtown Stockholm. The building was completed in 1870 and is the largest of three synagogues found in Stockholm today.

You are welcome to visit the Great Synagogue for services but, due to security issues, you have to register in advance before visiting. You can do this by clicking here. In other words, some pre-planning is required! During the summer months, you also have the option of joining a guided tour of the synagogue. There is no need to register in advance of  taking a tour, just show up at the appointed start time (found in the above link). You also have the opportunity of visiting the Mikve by appointment.

On the grounds of the synagogue, you will also find a Holocaust memorial which lists the names of over 8,000 victims who were related to Swedish Jews. Another important Holocaust related memorial can be found just outside of the synagogue. Raoul Wallenberg was a Swedish diplomat in Budapest during World War II. He managed to save tens of thousands of Hungarian Jews from Nazi occupied Hungary. The monument to Wallenberg is a large granite globe with a profound inscription inscribed in 22 languages (the languages of the victims of Nazi persecution). The monument is connected to the Holocaust memorial with a cobblestone path, resembling a train track (symbolizing the trains that took Jewish victims to the concentration camps).

One interesting sidenote is that, before the Great Synagogue was built, the main synagogue in Stockholm was found in the old town (Gamla Stan) and is today the location of the Jewsish Museum. I am planning on a visit here in the next few days, so expect an article shortly after that! The easiest way to get to the Great Synagogue from the Hotel Rival is either by subway (red line, four stops to Östermalmstorg, exit to Stureplan) or by taxi (7-8 minute ride). The closest subway station, however, is on the blue line: Kungsträdgården.