Pécs Synagogue: Transdanubia's Largest Synagogue

Transdanubia's largest synagogue preserves the debut instrument of the Angster organ empire right in the heart of Kossuth tér. Situated at Fürdő utca 1 on the eastern side of the square, the Pécs Synagogue stands as a testament to the city's 19th-century expansion beyond its medieval walls. The structure anchors the southern portion of the pedestrian core, providing a distinctive religious contrast to other historic landmarks like the Ottoman-era Mosque of Pasha Qasim and the medieval Pécs Cathedral.

Architectural Design and Interior

Constructed between 1868 and 1869, the synagogue was designed by architects Frigyes Feszl, Károly Gerster, and Lipót Kauser. It was later expanded in 1905 under the guidance of architect Lipót Baumhorn. The building features a Hungarian Romantic style that incorporates Neo-Moorish and Neo-Romanesque elements, characterized by corner onion-shaped domes and arched facade windows.

Measuring 23.36 by 32.35 meters, the interior features a triple-divided sanctuary dominated by a color palette of deep blue, warm brown, and red. The space is framed by carved oak furnishings and delicate cast-iron columns that support two tiers of women’s galleries. Originally, the layout accommodated 448 men on the ground floor and 476 women in the galleries above.

The Facade Clock and Chronogram

A prominent exterior feature is the central clock located in the upper arch, topped by the dual Stone Tablets of Moses bearing Roman numerals. The clock is ringed by a Hebrew inscription taken from the Book of Isaiah, reading "For my house shall be called a house of prayer for all people." This quotation serves an additional function as a chronogram, with the Hebrew letters encoding the Jewish calendar year of the building's dedication.

The Historic Angster Organ

The synagogue gallery houses Opus 1 of the renowned Pécs-based Angster Organ Factory. Built in 1869 by master craftsman József Angster, the organ was completed immediately after his apprenticeship in Paris under Aristide Cavaillé-Coll. The debut of this instrument, which contains two manuals, 24 stops, and 1,534 pipes, launched one of Central Europe's most significant organ manufacturers.

Jewish Community and History

The synagogue was commissioned by the city's growing Neolog (progressive) Jewish congregation following the Hungarian Jewish emancipation laws of 1867 and the 1868 Hungarian Jewish Congress. It was officially consecrated on July 22, 1869, in a ceremony led by Rabbi Lipót Löw and local Chief Rabbi Ede Ehrlich.

In May 1944, the Pécs Ghetto was established. Over 4,000 local Jewish community members were deported, predominantly to Auschwitz, leaving fewer than 500 survivors. Today, the entrance vestibule is lined with marble tablets commemorating the regional victims of the Holocaust. The building is the only pre-World War II synagogue in Pécs to survive.

Current Use and Exhibitions

The building operates seasonally from May through October, opening Sunday through Friday. Since 2014, it has housed a permanent multimedia exhibition detailing local Jewish history in Pécs and Baranya County. It continues to serve the active Jewish community for high holidays and cultural events, while regular weekly Friday evening Shabbat services are held in a smaller courtyard chapel.