Łańcut Synagogue

The Łańcut Synagogue (say "WAHN-tsoot") is an 18th-century Baroque synagogue on Sobieski Square, right next to the park of Łańcut Castle in southeastern Poland. Its plain exterior hides one of the finest surviving synagogue interiors in the country: rich stucco work, painted biblical scenes, a masonry bimah framed by four columns and a complete cycle of the zodiac. Visits are by appointment, so it is worth arranging one when you plan your day at the castle.

History

The brick synagogue was built in 1761 on the site of an older wooden one. It was funded by Stanisław Lubomirski, the lord of Łańcut, who stipulated that it must not stand out or rise above the church and the town hall – which explains the modest outside and the lavish inside. A staircase to the women's gallery was added in the 19th century, and the gallery walls were raised in 1896 and 1909–1910.

During World War II German forces set the synagogue on fire. The blaze was put out thanks to the quick intervention of Count Alfred Potocki, owner of the castle, but all the wooden furnishings were lost. Łańcut's Jewish community perished in the Holocaust. After the war the building was used as a grain store until 1956, when the town council decided to demolish it; Dr. Władysław Balicki stopped the demolition and helped turn the building into a small museum of Judaica. The Łańcut Castle Museum took it over in 1973 and restored the interior in 1983–1990. Since 2013 the building has belonged to the Foundation for the Preservation of Jewish Heritage in Poland (FODZ).

What to see

• The main prayer hall, about 13 × 12 m, with vaults resting on four Corinthian columns and a two-entrance masonry bimah between them.
• Rococo stucco decoration from the second half of the 18th century and Hebrew prayer texts naming the founders.
• Wall paintings from 1906 with biblical scenes and zodiac signs in medallions on the west wall – one of only a handful of Polish synagogues with a full zodiac cycle.
• The Torah ark from the early 19th century, the only wooden furnishing that survived.
• Matzevot (Jewish gravestones) in the vestibule, salvaged from the town's cemeteries destroyed by the Germans.

How to visit

There are no fixed opening hours. According to FODZ's 2026 visiting rules, the synagogue opens by prior appointment. Allow 30–45 minutes. This is a place of memory, so dress and behave respectfully. If you cannot book a slot, FODZ offers an online virtual tour of the interior.

Practical information

As of October 2026 (FODZ):

• Address: 16 Jana III Sobieskiego Square, Łańcut.
• Booking: fodz@fodz.pl, tel. +48 720 766 996 or +48 577 025 279.
• Admission: PLN 20 per person, minimum PLN 80 per visit (Polish złoty).

Getting there

Łańcut is about 20 km (12 miles) east of Rzeszów and its airport (RZE), on the A4 motorway and the Kraków–Rzeszów–Przemyśl railway; Kraków is roughly two and a half hours away by car. The synagogue is a few minutes' walk from both the castle and the market square, with paid parking right outside.

Is it worth visiting?

Yes, if you are interested in Jewish heritage or Baroque art – the painted interior is a rare survivor in a region where most synagogues were destroyed. Combine it with Łańcut Castle and the Ulma Family Museum of Poles Who Saved Jews in nearby Markowa, about 8 km away.