The old Jewish ghetto, former home of legendary author Franz Kafka, and now a cultural haven with six impressive synagogues rising high above the streets.

A part of town rich in history and culture, Prague’s Jewish Quarter dates all the way back to the 10th century. As well as learning about local Jewish customs and traditions, here you can walk in the footsteps of author and native Praguer Franz Kafka, and find out all about how the area survived the Nazi occupation.

The Jewish Quarter lies in the heart of the Old Town. It started out as a ghetto for pogrom refugees, whose descendants subsequently endured centuries of abuse here until the early 20th century when much of the area was destroyed as part of the city’s modern redevelopment.

Today, the historic spots in this part of town make up the Jewish Museum, which incorporates the Jewish Town Hall, the Old Jewish Cemetery, as well as the former mortuary, the Ceremonial Hall. Explore the exhibits to discover more about the people who lived and worked here through the years. The synagogues are spectacular sights too, especially the Old New Synagogue which is the oldest active synagogue in Europe. The Spanish Synagogue meanwhile is now a popular venue for concerts.

Remarkably, the buildings here survived the Nazi occupation as Adolf Hitler planned to preserve the ghetto as a ‘museum to an extinct race’. Visitors today often leave incredibly moved by what they see.

It is easy to walk around the quarter at your own leisure, though guides are on hand, some of whom offer tours that include entry to the area’s top attractions. Listening to the stories of the tour guides is a great experience too, as they have unique insights into the place and its people.

You can get to the Jewish Quarter easily by walking from the Old Town, or get the tram or metro if you’re travelling from elsewhere in the city. On Saturdays and Jewish holidays, the museum exhibits are closed. Opening times are also reduced during the winter.