Københavns Synagoge (Great Synagogue of Copenhagen)

A discreet landmark of Danish–Jewish history

Københavns Synagoge stands slightly set back from Krystalgade, a reminder that when it was built in the early 1800s, Jewish life in Denmark was tolerated but still cautious. The community had worshipped in smaller synagogues and private homes since the 1600s, but the great city fire of 1795 destroyed their earlier house of prayer. Only after legal equality in 1814 and years of negotiation did the Jewish congregation secure permission to build this new, purpose‑made synagogue on what was then a modest side street. Completed in 1833, the building quickly became the central spiritual and cultural anchor for Copenhagen’s Jews. It has witnessed emancipation, integration, waves of migration and the trauma of 20th‑century persecution, yet remains an active Orthodox synagogue. Every element, from Hebrew inscriptions to spatial layout, speaks to a community determined to root itself firmly in Danish society while preserving its traditions.

Architect G.F. Hetsch and the Egyptian revival interior

The exterior is relatively restrained: a near‑square basilica in pale yellow brick with tall round‑arched windows and a rhythm of twelve columns symbolising the twelve tribes of Israel. Architect Gustav Friedrich Hetsch followed the neoclassical taste of his day, keeping the street facade harmonious with surrounding townhouses while still signalling the building’s special purpose through proportion and ornament. Inside, the tone changes. Hetsch embraced an Egyptian revival style around the ark wall, with stylised lotus and papyrus motifs, bold cornices and a richly painted ceiling. Octagonal columns divide the central nave from narrow side aisles, their forms and capitals subtly echoing ancient temples. The coffered ceiling replaces the barrel vault originally requested by the congregation, a choice that improves acoustics and light while adding geometric order overhead.

Ritual space, gendered seating and sacred objects

The synagogue’s plan follows traditional Orthodox practice. Men sit on the main floor of the nave, while women occupy galleries along the side aisles and a balcony at the western end, reached by staircases added and refined during later 19th‑century alterations. This vertical separation shapes the way sound, sightlines and community dynamics are experienced during prayer. At the eastern wall, steps rise to the elevated ark where the Torah scrolls are kept behind an ornate curtain and doors. Above it, in gilded Hebrew letters, a line admonishes worshippers to "know before whom you stand", focusing attention on the sanctity of the moment. In front sits the bimah, a raised platform with a reading desk where the Torah is chanted and the cantor leads the service, turning the central space into both stage and gathering place.

War, rescue and resilience in the 20th century

The synagogue is entwined with Denmark’s remarkable wartime story. During the Nazi occupation, community leaders and sympathetic officials moved quickly to protect sacred objects. Torah scrolls were secretly transferred for safekeeping to a nearby church, while many Danish Jews were helped across the Øresund to neutral Sweden. The building itself survived these years but later, in 1985, was damaged by a bomb attack linked to Middle Eastern tensions, a sobering reminder of the vulnerability of Jewish institutions. Despite these threats, Københavns Synagoge has continued to function as a living house of worship and memory. Renovations in recent decades have repaired war and age‑related damage, upgraded seating and lighting, and restored painted surfaces without erasing patina. The result is a space that feels both carefully preserved and actively used, especially on major holidays when its role as communal heart becomes most evident.

Visiting today: calm interior and layered stories

From the street, the synagogue can seem almost hidden, yet stepping through the gate and into the quiet courtyard shifts the mood from city bustle to reflective calm. Inside, warm light filters through high windows onto painted walls, polished wood benches and the richly decorated ark, encouraging visitors to sit, look closely and absorb details rather than rush. Guided visits, when offered, typically explain ritual objects, Hebrew inscriptions and the history of Jews in Denmark, placing the building within a broader narrative of religious freedom and minority life. Security is visible and entry procedures are controlled, but once inside, the atmosphere is welcoming and contemplative. For architecture lovers, history enthusiasts and anyone curious about Jewish heritage in Scandinavia, Københavns Synagoge offers a nuanced, quietly powerful insight into the city beyond its royal palaces and museums.