The Synagogue in Łańcut

The Łańcut Synagogue, located at 16 Jana III Sobieskiego Square, is one of the most important monuments of Jewish sacral architecture in Poland. It was built in 1761 on the site of a former wooden synagogue. Its construction was financed by Stanisław Lubomirski, who stipulated that the synagogue should not be larger than the neighboring buildings. In the 19th century, it underwent renovation, and during World War II, it was partially destroyed. Thanks to the swift intervention of Alfred Potocki, the building was saved from complete destruction, although its interior lost its wooden furnishings. After the war, it served as a grain warehouse until 1956, when Dr. Władysław Balicki advocated for its preservation in exchange for ensuring the celebration of the city's 600th anniversary. In the 1960s, the restoration of the synagogue began, and it was eventually transformed into a Judaic museum, which still operates within its walls today. The synagogue's architecture is Baroque in style, featuring a brick building with a rectangular layout divided into four rooms, including the main prayer hall with a distinctive women's gallery (babińcem). The interior retains rich decorations, with polychromes depicting biblical scenes and ornamental elements from the 18th and 19th centuries. In the main hall, there is an Aron ha-kodesh (Holy Ark) from the first half of the 19th century, adorned with intricate woodcarvings. The vestibule houses matzevot (tombstones) from destroyed cemeteries, and the Lublin Hall served both prayer and judicial functions. The synagogue is not only an important cultural site but also a place of remembrance. It was entered into the register of monuments in 1969. An interesting fact is that in 2014, the Israeli company Bezeq donated a parochet (Torah curtain), which was ceremoniously hung on the Aron ha-kodesh. The Łańcut Synagogue is not just a historical monument but also a symbol of Jewish cultural heritage in this part of Poland.