Slovak Jewish Heritage Route
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Slovak Jewish Heritage Route
The first written mention about the Jewish population present in present-day Slovakia comes from the 11th century and the founding of the first Jewish community in Bratislava (Pressburg, Pozsony) in the late 13th century, however, the migrations and settlements of the 17th and 18th centuries had the most significant impact on the subsequent development of the Jewish community.
The significant growth and improvement of the social and economic position of the Jewish population during the 19th century was to a great extent the result of the reforms of religious toleration enacted by Emperor Joseph II in 1783.
Bratislava became the seat of Hungarian Jewish Orthodoxy under the leadership of the renowned Rabbi Moshe Schreiber, known as the Chatam Sofer (1762-1839), who served as rabbi in Bratislava from 1806 until his death. He founded the influential yeshiva of Bratislava, and led the traditionalist struggle against rapidly spreading religious reform. In 1868, one year after the constitutional compromise (Ausgliech), Hungarian Jewry split into Neolog (Hungarian reform), Orthodox, and Status Quo factions following unresolved conflict stemming from the kingdom-wide Jewish congress in Budapest organized by the government. The majority of Jewish communities in northern Hungary were Orthodox, though there were important Neolog Jewish communities in Bratislava and Košice (Kaschau, Kassa).
We’ll visit all significant synagogues and provide you with in-depth knowledge about the Jewish Heritage in Slovakia.
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Itinerary
DAY 1
Welcome to Bratislava
Welcome drink and itinerary introduction. Your lovely holiday starts today.
Book with us an airport pickup service from Bratislava, Vienna, Prague, Budapest and get the best possible price, travel in style with the highest comfort.
How do we provide this service? We will wait for you at the airport’s arrival hall holding a sign with your name, help you with your luggage, drive you safely and comfortably to Bratislava and help with the check in process. Maximum comfort, mineral water on board and a pleasant drive.
Overnight in Bratislava at the Boutique Hotel Arcadia****
DAY 2
Jewish Heritage in Bratislava
We’ll start your private tour with a professional local guide specialized in Jewish Heritage and visit the Memorial of Chatam Sofer (Rabbi Moshe Schreiber) who was a renowned rabbi and scholar. The memorial is often visited by Orthodox pilgrims from around the world.
We’ll visit with the Museum of Jewish Culture, then, we’ll continue with the walking on Zidovska ulica (Jewish street). Then, we’ll continue with a walking tour down the Zidovska ulica (Jewish street) and learn more about the Neolog Synagogue.
Lunch break and Quality Walking Tour to see the highlights of the Old Town such as the Hviezdoslav Square, a prominent 18th century square surrounded by stunning palaces, the Slovak National Theatre and the Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra, the St. Martin’s Cathedral – the coronation place of 18 rulers, including famous Austro-Hungarian empress Maria Theresa. We‘ll stroll on medieval streets such as Panska and Venturska where famous music composers studied or gave concerts, such as W. A. Mozart, F. Liszt, L. Beethoven, and admire the only preserved town entrance – St. Michael’s Gate. Walking through the main square, admire the beautiful former Old Town Hall and Maximilian Fountain, the Primate’s Palace (outside) – the largest in Bratislava. Enough free time for taking pictures and enjoying the atmosphere.
Overnight in Bratislava at the Boutique Hotel Arcadia****
DAY 3
Jewish Heritage in Trnava and Nitra
We’ll also visit a former Orthodox synagogue called „small synagogue“,
In 2010, it received an award for the most beautiful sacral building in Slovakia.
On the way to Nitra town, we’ll stop in Museum of Holocaust in Sered, created on the site of the former labour and concentration camp, represents an authentic location that is linked to the tragic era of the solution of the Jewish question in Slovakia during World War II.
The museum exhibits period documents, photographs, and items related to the persecution of Jews in Slovakia. Then, we’ll continue to Nitra synagogue, built between 1910 – 1911 according to the project of L. Baumhorn, designer of many other monumental synagogues across the former Hungarian Kingdom. Nitra town for centuries belonged to the most significant centres of Jewish life in Slovakia. The very first mention of the Jews in this territory is from the 12th century. Today, the synagogue is no longer an active synagogue, but it serves as a concert and exhibition hall in Nitra town. Drive to Trencin.
Overnight in Trencin at the Hotel Elisabeth****
DAY 4
Jewish Heritage in Trencin and Liptovsky Mikulas
Overnight in Bardejov at the Hotel pod Branou***
DAY 5
Jewish Heritage in Bardejov, Presov and Kosice
We’ll start with the visit of Jewish Suburbium – the most prominent site of Jewish heritage in Bardejov, served as the spiritual and communal center of the once-vibrant Jewish community of Bardejov from the turn of 18th century until the early 1900s.
Then, we’ll do the short walking tour in the heart of Bardejov town to see the highlights of this unique medieval town.
Drive to Presov, Slovakia’s 3rd biggest city. We’ll enter the Orthodox synagogue, built in 1898 by the building firm Kollacsek and Wirth. The richly decorated interiors with a fully preserved inventory are among the most attractive. The synagogue in Presov is one of the best-preserved buildings of its kind in Slovakia. Nowadays it’s a museum of Jewish culture. Drive to Kosice.
Overnight in Kosice at the Hotel Double Tree Hilton****
DAY 6
Jewish Heritage in Lucenec, drive back to Bratislava
We’ll leave Eastern Slovakia and head towards Bratislava with a stop in Lucenec town where we’ll visit an impressive neolog synagogue (by Hungarian architect Leopold Baumhorn).
There are 4 exactly the same looking synagogues in the world, in Amsterdam, in Brusell and Tel Avive. Today, it does not serve as a synagogue anymore, and it is used for exhibitions.
Leopold Baumhorn was a Hungarian architect of Jewish heritage, the most influential Hungarian synagogue architect in the first half of the 20th century.
Overnight in Kosice at the Boutique Hotel Arcadia****
DAY 7
Farewell & Departure
Your memorable holiday comes to an end today. We believe you have wonderful memories.
We are ready to arrange for you an airport transfer – comfortable door-to-door service for discounted rates.
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More about this tour
Our Private 7 Day Jewish Heritage Tour in Slovakia will only be offered as a private guided tour. Please let us know your preferred travel dates and we will send you a detailed itinerary.
Group of 2 travelers: EUR 3250 per person
Group of 4 travelers: EUR 2550 per person
Group of 6 travelers: EUR 2150 per person
Price is per person sharing a double/twin room
Group 7+ will get a special discount.
Download the detailed itinerary of our "Private Jewish Heritage Tour in Slovakia 2025" here:
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