Grand Synagogue of Edirne The Grand Synagogue of Edirne, also referred to as the Adrianople Synagogue, is a significant historical Sephardic place of worship located on Maarif Street in Edirne, Turkey. Constructed in the striking Moorish Revival architectural style, this iconic building underwent an extensive restoration in 2015, bringing it back to its former splendor. After the catastrophic Great Fire of Edirne in 1905, which destroyed more than 1,500 homes and severely damaged numerous synagogues, the construction of a new synagogue began on January 6, 1906 in the Suriçi (Citadel) area. This initiative was carried out with the permission of the Ottoman Government and a special decree from Sultan Abdul Hamid II. The synagogue was designed by French architect France Depré, who modeled it after the famous Leopoldstädter Tempel in Vienna. With a total capacity of 1,200 worshippers (including 900 men and 300 women), it stands as the largest synagogue in Turkey and the third-largest in Europe. In 1983, the synagogue was left abandoned due to the migration of most of Edirne’s Jewish population to Israel, European countries, and North America. Eventually, in 1995, the building was officially handed over to the Turkish Foundations Institution for preservation. Following an extensive period of restoration and renovation, the Edirne Synagogue officially reopened its doors on March 26, 2015. The reopening was marked by a special ceremony attended by Ishak Ibrahimzadeh, the head of the Jewish community in Turkey, along with approximately 500 members of the Turkish Jewish community who joined together for a morning prayer service. If you have any questions or need more information, feel free to reach out to us at [email protected] or simply contact us via WhatsApp, and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.