Maribor Synagogue Reexamined

Abstract

The Maribor Synagogue is one of the most important preserved medieval synagogues in Central Europe. Since undergoing renovation and partial reconstruction from 1992–1999, the facility has served as a cultural centre. The renovation, which was supervised by the ZVKDS (Institute for the Protection of Cultural Heritage of Slovenia), proved to be much more demanding than was originally foreseen. While the outcome of the renovation has not been scrutinized in professional literature, its architectural shell and elements have served as a reference point for the (visual) reconstruction attempts of similar monuments abroad. However, the renovation itself has left numerous unanswered questions, especially in regard to the building phases during the Jewish and later Christian use of the building. The article examines the history of the monument’s documentation and preservation in the 20th century in light of recent progress in medieval synagogue research. Owing to the controversial interpretations of certain architectural elements and the failure to take archaeological research into account, the entire reconstruction is called into question.