Neolog Synagogue (Memorial Temple of the Deportees)
About Neolog Synagogue (Memorial Temple of the Deportees)
The Neolog Synagogue in Cluj-Napoca, officially the Memorial Temple of the Deported Jews of Cluj, stands on Strada Horea, at nos. 21–23, in a complex of buildings belonging to the Jewish community. It was built in 1886–1887 by the Neolog community, which had split from the Orthodox one, to plans by the engineer Izidor Hegner; it was inaugurated on 4 September 1887. The street was then called Franz Joseph, and locals also called it the Jewish Lane.
The building has lived through hard times: it was vandalised in 1927, used as a warehouse in 1944 and badly damaged in the Second World War. It was rebuilt and rededicated in 1947 under its present name, in memory of the Jews of Cluj deported to Auschwitz. Consolidation and rehabilitation works, begun in 2018, ended with the reopening of April 2022. The temple is a listed historic monument and remains a place of memory and prayer.
What you can see
The monumental Moorish Revival façade faces Strada Horea and has four towers with domes, horizontal bands of yellow and ochre, round windows and, between the towers, the Tablets of the Law. On the walls, outside as well as inside, are numerous plaques in memory of the deportees. The hall has a gallery, a central chandelier and coloured glass, and in front of the ark, which holds five Torah scrolls, stands the bimah; exhibition spaces have been fitted out on the gallery.
Good to know
It can be seen well from the outside, from Strada Horea. The interior opens at the major Jewish holidays and at Holocaust commemorations; for a visit at other times, contact the community's secretariat. The city has other synagogues too, an Orthodox one, a Poale Tzedek one and a Shas Hevra one: they are different buildings, with a different history.
Information verified on 27 October 2026.
- The Moorish Revival façade with four towers and the Tablets of the Law between them, facing Strada Horea.
- The memorial plaques on the walls, in memory of the Jews of Cluj deported in 1944.
- The hall with its gallery, central chandelier and coloured glass, and the ark holding five Torah scrolls.
Good to know before you go
- Getting there
By car: the synagogue is in Cluj-Napoca, on Strada Horea, close to the railway station area and ~1 km from Union Square. Parking on the surrounding streets is paid, and spaces in the centre are hard to find; it is simpler to leave the car further away and walk.
Public transport: Cluj-Napoca railway station is ~800 m away, and from there it is a few minutes' walk along Strada Horea; from the centre, the synagogue is ~15 minutes on foot.
- Where to park
Parking in the area is paid, on the surrounding streets; spaces fill quickly on weekdays.
- Rules
It is a place of worship and of remembrance: decent dress, a low voice, and the objects inside are not to be touched.
- Facilities
exhibition spaces on the gallery
Frequently asked questions about Neolog Synagogue (Memorial Temple of the Deportees)
- How long does a visit to Neolog Synagogue (Memorial Temple of the Deportees) take?
- A visit to Neolog Synagogue (Memorial Temple of the Deportees) takes about 20 min (exterior and memorial plaques).
- Can you visit Neolog Synagogue (Memorial Temple of the Deportees) with kids?
- Yes, Neolog Synagogue (Memorial Temple of the Deportees) is suitable for children (place of remembrance, keep voices low).
- Where can I park at Neolog Synagogue (Memorial Temple of the Deportees)?
- There is paid parking at Neolog Synagogue (Memorial Temple of the Deportees) (on the surrounding streets, paid). Parking in the area is paid, on the surrounding streets; spaces fill quickly on weekdays.
- How do I get to Neolog Synagogue (Memorial Temple of the Deportees)?
- Neolog Synagogue (Memorial Temple of the Deportees) is located at Strada Horea 21–23, Cluj-Napoca, Cluj County. By car: the synagogue is in Cluj-Napoca, on Strada Horea, close to the railway station area and ~1 km from Union Square. Parking on the surrounding streets is paid, and spaces in the centre are hard to find; it is simpler to leave the car further away and walk. Public transport: Cluj-Napoca railway station is ~800 m away, and from there it is a few minutes' walk along Strada Horea; from the centre, the synagogue is ~15 minutes on foot.
- When is the best time to visit Neolog Synagogue (Memorial Temple of the Deportees)?
- The best season for Neolog Synagogue (Memorial Temple of the Deportees): All year round (all year).
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