New Synagogue
Peter Behrens’s final modernist masterpiece, completed just before the Holocaust transformed Slovakia’s Jewish landscape, now reimagined as a cultural beacon.
At a glance
A striking modernist synagogue that served the Neolog Jewish congregation of Žilina until World War II devastated Slovak Jewry. The building was repurposed after 1945 and underwent comprehensive restoration between 2011 and 2017 to function as an arts center.
History
Completed in 1931 to designs by German architect Peter Behrens, the New Synagogue arrived at a pivotal moment in European history. Eight years later, World War II would nearly eliminate Slovakia’s Jewish population. The building has been called “the last Slovak synagogue”—a poignant testament to its timing. Following the war, it was converted for other uses. Between 2011 and 2017, a thorough restoration returned the building to public life as an arts center, preserving its architectural legacy while giving it new cultural purpose.
What you see
Behrens’s design exemplifies German Modernism, the aesthetic vocabulary he pioneered in early 20th-century architecture. The building reflects his philosophy of industrial design applied to civic and religious spaces, with clean lines, rational proportions, and an unadorned directness characteristic of his approach. The restoration maintained these modernist principles while adapting the interior for contemporary arts programming.
Cultural significance
This synagogue represents a vanished world. It stands as one of the last major Jewish buildings erected in Slovakia before the Holocaust—a rare physical reminder of a thriving pre-war Jewish community. Its survival and restoration make it a memorial in stone, documenting both architectural modernism and the historical rupture of 1939–1945.
Key facts
- Country: Slovakia
- City: Žilina
- Completed: 1931
- Architect: Peter Behrens (German Modernist)
- Coordinates: 49.22465, 18.73721
- Restored: 2011–2017; now an arts center
Practical information & getting there
The New Synagogue is located in Žilina, central Slovakia, and operates as a public arts center. For current visiting hours, exhibitions, and events, contact the venue directly or check local cultural listings before planning your visit.
Sources & resources
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