Synagogue in Bieruń

The former synagogue in Bieruń is a 19th-century building at Oświęcimska 453, which has served as a fire station since the 1950s. Its original appearance has largely been blurred by successive alterations.

The Jewish community and the synagogue

The synagogue was built in the 19th century as a house of prayer of the Reform current. After Bieruń was incorporated into Poland in 1922, most members of the community left and regular services ceased. Prayers were held only on the greatest holidays and at family ceremonies such as circumcisions, weddings and funerals, for which rabbis were invited from Katowice. An inspection in 1928 showed that the building was in poor condition and needed urgent repairs.

After the war

During the Second World War the Germans devastated the synagogue. In the 1950s the building was adapted as a fire station. Further renovations in 1973, 1981, 1985 and 2006 gradually erased the original architecture.

Nearby

About 100 metres away is the Bieruń City Museum, where you can ask about the history of the town.

Practical information

• Address: ul. Oświęcimska 453, Bieruń.
• The building is an active fire station, so it is viewed from the outside.
• Information on any commemoration is worth seeking from the city office.