Take a look straight ahead for a rectangular white masonry building topped with a stepped gable roof and a prominent Star of David window set into the front facade. This is the former synagogue of Slavkov u Brna. Built in 1857, it was designed in the Neo-Romanesque style, meaning it uses rounded arches and thick walls inspired by medieval European architecture. You can pull up your screen to see a great exterior shot of this design.
For decades, this was the heart of the local Jewish community. But in the early nineteen forties, the interior was tragically destroyed by the Nazis. After the war, this sacred space spent fifty years being used as a simple warehouse. It is wild to imagine such a beautiful building filled with forgotten boxes.
Thankfully, in the nineteen nineties, it was returned and fully restored. Today, it has found a new life as the State District Archive, safely holding local history. You will also spot a plaque on the front, honoring victims of the Holocaust. It stands today as a quiet survivor with a powerful story. Whenever you are ready to keep wandering, we can head toward our next stop.
