Israel Poznański's Mausoleum

The Mausoleum of Israel Poznański, located in the New Jewish Cemetery in Łódź, is an Art Nouveau tomb built between 1901 and 1903 according to the design of Adolf Zeligson and executed by the Berlin-based firm "Cremer & Wolffenstein." The monumental structure takes the form of a circular tholos made of light gray granite and marble, with a base diameter of 14.64 meters and a height of 15 meters. The interior of the mausoleum is adorned with two sarcophagi made of red marble by Antoni Urbanowski, and its dome is richly decorated with a mosaic composed of two million colorful pieces, depicting the four rivers of Paradise. Architectural elements such as massive columns and windows with decorative bands lend the structure its monumental character. Contrary to religious traditions, the mausoleum was erected during Poznański's lifetime, and it houses both him and his wife, Leonia. The tomb is considered the largest Jewish mausoleum in the world, and its grandeur has earned it the nickname "Poznański's Last Palace." Interestingly, the decorative mosaic was possibly commissioned from the German firm Johann Odorico, highlighting the international nature of the project. The mausoleum stands as an important monument of Jewish culture and Art Nouveau architecture, and its uniqueness attracts numerous tourists and researchers.