BRTNICE JEWISH QUARTER

The history of Jews in Brtnice in the Jihlava region dates back to the 14th century and two hundred years later craftsmen were allowed to settle in the town. In the middle of the 19th century there were already around five hundred Jews living in Brtnice. An independent religious community was maintained here until the beginning of the Protectorate.

A small ghetto and a synagogue were built in the middle of the 17th century north of the square. It consisted of fifty houses, which were destroyed by a large fire. They had their own dwelling house and a gendarmerie. The Jewish school, approved by the authorities in 1872, was located in one of the houses of the Jewish ghetto next to the synagogue. It was a one-class school where the language of instruction was German. The Jewish town also had its own swimming pool.

Only the Jewish Bridge is still visible in Brtnice. It was built in the first quarter of the 18th century and the statues of saints were added by local sculptor David Lipart. All the statues were originally made of shell limestone. The originals are gradually being restored. The view of the château with the bridge in the foreground is called Hradčany.

Today, the Jewish Quarter is commemorated by a plaque on a department store, for the construction of which the synagogue, rabbi's house and several other buildings had to be demolished in 1988.

Photo: archive of Vysočina Tourism, m-ARK