History of the Jews of Provence
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through the Cavaillon synagogue
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 A masterpiece of 18th century Comtadin art at the time of its reconstruction, the synagogue dates from the 15th century. It has been endowed with Louis XV style furniture and a Judeo-Comtadin museum.
The south façade, flanked on two levels, is refined ; it thus harmonizes with the urban fabric. |
High constructions were favoured in the narrow streets of the time. The main place of worship is on the first storey ; it is reserved for men. The interior of the high-ceilinged room is richly decorated.
The rococo style superimposes a mix of two cultures, Jewish and Provençale. The rabbi's rostrum rises between two stairs, with a sumptuos wrought-iron balustrade.
On the ground floor, the room reserved for women is more sober, a space only just letting them glimpse the sacred books.
This room also served as a bakery, in particular at Passover, as the oven where they baked the unleavened bread will testify.
Add to this the ritual bath : a large pool permitting the women to "purify" themselves. |
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Since 1960, the bakery houses a museum testifying, through many objects, to life in the carrières.
Paradoxically the sumptuous décor of the Cavaillon synagogue shows nothing of the hard life of the carrières, of the ghetto Jews of Provence under the Ancien Régime.
Discover a part of the history of the Jews of Provence through the Cavaillon Synagogue. |
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History of the Jews of Provence |
Synagogue de Cavaillon
Rue Hébraïque - 52 place Castil Blaze
- 84300 Cavaillon
Phone : +33 (0)4 90 76 00
34 / Fax : +33 (0)4 90 71 47 06
Official website of the town of Cavaillon
: www.cavaillon.com
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