Learn history of Jews in Slovakia.
Begin your day in Bratislava, once a world-renowned center of Jewish learning. Descend into the Chatam Sofer Memorial, an atmospheric underground site that houses the graves of legendary rabbis. After this moment of reflection, visit the Bratislava Synagogue on Heydukova Street. As the city’s only surviving synagogue, it stands as a cubist masterpiece and a beacon of the modern-day community’s endurance.

Next, visit the sites of three synagogues that no longer exist. Stand where the massive Moorish-style Reform Synagogue (1893) once stood. See the bronze silhouette on the pavement and learn how it was tragically demolished in 1969 to make way for the New Bridge (SNP).

Find a hidden gothic portal, the only remnant of the medieval synagogue. Discuss how the Jewish community moved from these medieval roots into the 19th-century legal emancipation.

Visit the former site of the Great Orthodox Synagogue (1862). Hear the story of how the son of Chatam Sofer (Ketav Sofer) refused to enter the building because the dome looked “too Christian,” forcing the architect to alter it overnight.

Continue to the Museum of Jewish Culture, housed in a beautiful 17th-century mansion. Here, the “hidden stories” come to life through a vast collection of silver, textiles, and personal heirlooms. Gain a deep understanding of how Jewish traditions were woven into the fabric of Slovakian life for centuries before the tragedies of the 1940s.

After lunch, depart the city for a short drive to the Sereď Holocaust Museum. This is the most poignant part of the day. As the only preserved labor and concentration camp in Slovakia, the museum offers a raw, authentic look at the Holocaust. Walking through the original barracks, honor the victims and survivors by engaging with the permanent exhibitions that document the fate of Slovak Jews.

Finally, stop at a beautiful synagogue in Trnava that has been converted to a coffee house. If you are hungry, you can take a dinner in the nearby restaurant.