The Great Synagogue in Kraśnik

The Great Synagogue in Kraśnik, located on Bożnicza Street next to the Small Synagogue, was built between 1637 and 1654 on the site of an earlier wooden structure. In the 18th and 19th centuries, it underwent several renovations, including the addition of a two-story women's gallery on the northern side and a single-story vestibule on the western side. During World War II, the synagogue was destroyed by the occupying forces, and after the war, it was repurposed as workshops for a craft cooperative. The years 1980–1989 were a period of neglect and lack of ownership, while from 1989 onward, attempts at renovation began, though initially limited to roof repairs. Since 2005, the synagogue has been open to visitors, with ticket revenues allocated toward further restoration. According to a 2007 agreement, plans are underway to establish a center for the meeting of three cultures: Polish, Jewish, and Ukrainian. Technical documentation for the synagogue complex was prepared by the Foundation for the Preservation of Jewish Heritage with support from the Ministry of Culture, and the first phase of the building's revitalization began in 2010. Architecturally, the synagogue is a masonry structure with a square floor plan and a gable roof, featuring a barrel vault inside and polychrome paintings from the turn of the 20th century depicting motifs such as the Leviathan and an ox. The synagogue is a significant part of Kraśnik's cultural heritage, symbolizing the history of the local Jewish community and its importance in the region's multicultural landscape.