Synagogue of Carpentras

The synagogue in Carpentras is the oldest active synagogues in France. In 1343 the bishop of the city, Hughes, nephew of Pope Clement VI granted to the Jews of Carpentras the right to build a synagogue. The Pope also conceded the right to purchase land for a cemetery in 1343 apparently "in return of an annual fee of six pounds of spices, ginger and pepper, or the cash value." Built in 1367, the Carpentras Synagogue is one of France’s oldest synagogues, located in the former papal territory of Comtat Venaissin near Avignon. Following widespread persecution in thirteenth-century France, many Jews sought refuge under the protection of the Avignon papacy, establishing the synagogue soon after their settlement in Carpentras. Restored in the eighteenth century by architect Antoine D’Allemand, the synagogue was updated with baroque elements, including a monumental stairway that contrasts with its modest façade. Notable features include the ritual baths (mikveh), two bakeries dating back to its origins, and a dedicated room for Jerusalem within the prayer space. These elements make the synagogue a profound reflection of the Jewish community’s enduring cultural and spiritual heritage. The synagogue was registered as a historical monument in 1924. A monumental staircase leads to the place of worship, which is organized on two levels: the meeting room with the tabernacle and the gallery/tribune with the tevah. The interior decoration is remarkable. Note the blue ceiling spangled with stars, the wooden paneling, the gilding on the tabernacle, the columns supporting the tevah, the Chair of Elijah, and the chandeliers and candlesticks. In the basement, elements from the medieval construction are still in place: the matzoh oven, the mikvah, and the women’s prayer room, where a specially chosen rabbi led the prayers in Judeo-Provençal (Judeo-Comtadin). Guided ours from September to June take place Monday - Friday at 2:30 pm by reservation only. Book by calling 04 90 63 39 97. Cost is 7 Euros. Closed to the public on Saturday and Sunday and on Jewish holidays. The carriere and the Place de la Juiverie were destroyed in the nineteenth century,

www.synagoguedecarpentras.fr

The synagogue of Carpentras is the oldest synagogue still in activity in France. In 1343 the bishop of the city, Hughes, nephew of Pope Clement VI granted to the Jews of Carpentras the right to build a synagogue. The construction of the synagogue began in 1367. and went through serious repairs and was remodeled between 1741 and 1744 by a local civil engineer Antoine D’Allemand, in the Baroque style. It was again remodeled in 2001 by the World Monuments Fund. The Synagogue of Carpentras has a stark, simple exterior contrasting with its elaborate, 18th-century Baroque and Rococo interior, featuring teal-colored wooden walls, gold ornamentation, and trompe-l'œil effects. The complex also includes medieval-era functional facilities like ritual baths (mikvehs) and bakeries, reflecting the Judeo-Provençal culture and the community's adaptation to papal refuge after the 1306 expulsion of Jews from France. An unusual feature of the Carpentras synagogue and others in Provence is an elevated wrought-iron balcony from which the rabbi presided over services. Another anomaly is the women’s section, which in this synagogue was located in a matzah bakery in the basement. The women could hear, but not see, the services. The synagogue is open to the public: Monday and Wednesday from 10am to 12pm and from 3 pm to 5 pm Tuesday and Thursday from 9am to 12pm and from 2 pm to 5 pm Friday from 10am to 12pm and from 2 pm to 4 pm Closed to the public on Saturday and Sunday and on Jewish holidays.

synagoguedecarpentras.fr