Route of the Jews in Budapest

Route through the Jewish quarter of Budapest.

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Budapest, the capital of Hungary, is one of the most enigmatic cities in Europe, as well as one of the most beautiful. Likewise, it has always been a diverse metropolis, with different ethnic and religious communities. One of the most significant groups was the Jews, and today we are going to discover the Route of the Jews in Budapest and its interesting details.

Hungary and its Jewish People

Throughout history, and in many countries around the world, Jewish communities have been affected by discrimination and segregation. That is why, in several European cities, we find the so-called Jewish neighborhoods, neighborhoods that only belonged to this religious group.

Budapest is no exception, and one of its most famous areas corresponds to the Jewish Quarter. This has been a part of the city for a very long time, but it gained more relevance during the 20th century.

During this same time, the Hungarian Jewish community had to endure the terrible blows of war, while trying to safeguard its temples and monuments.

Today, it is one of the great cultural treasures of the Hungarian capital, and walking the Route of the Jews in Budapest is a tour that no visitor can miss.

5 places to know the Jewish Route in Budapest

This themed walk begins in the heart of the Jewish Quarter, which is on Dohány Street, and right in the heart of the Erzsébetváros district. When compared to the more modern neighborhoods of the metropolis, the Jewish Quarter is considerably small, but it has a lot to offer and teach its visitors.

Next, we will know its most famous points, temples and stops:

1. Great Synagogue of Budapest

This is not only the largest Synagogue in Hungary, but in Europe. Its interior can receive more than 2,900 people, in addition to being extraordinarily decorated. The Great Synagogue was partially destroyed during World War II, when it was used as a German radio station, and it could not be fully recovered until 1998.

2. Temple of the Heroes

It is also a synagogue, but much smaller. It is located in the Great Synagogue Complex, and was founded to honor the memory of the Jews who fought during the First World War.

3. Jewish cementary

Similarly, this cemetery is part of the Great Synagogue complex, occupying most of the space in the rear garden. Here are the victims of the Budapest Ghetto, where Hungarian Jews were locked up by the Nazi army.

4. Monument to the Jewish Martyrs

This is one of the most solemn spaces in the Jewish Quarter, as it represents the Tree of Life, which pays tribute to the thousands of Hungarian Jews who perished as a result of the Holocaust. Like the other places mentioned, the Monument of the Jewish Martyrs is within the Great Synagogue complex.

5. Streets and shops

Since the end of World War II, the Jewish community in Budapest has declined considerably. However, decades old shops can still be found in the most central streets of the Jewish Quarter. Most of it is dedicated to the sale of kosher food, but there are several others that specialize in other trades, such as jewelry, watchmaking and pastry.