Bulgaria / Sofia and Surrounding Areas

Vidin

Ruins of the ancient synagogue of Vidin
Ancient synagogue of Vidin. Photo by Anton Leftarov – Wikipedia

A beautiful  synagogue was built in Vidin in 1894 by the architect Friedrich Grunanger. A two-storey building with impressive stained-glass windows.

At that time, about 1500 Jews lived in Vidin. This number increased on the eve of the Second World War.

It was damaged by bombing raids during the war. Although a large part of the compound remains, the roof is no longer present. Only a dozen Jews still live in Vidin in 2022.

In 2022 the transformation of the synagogue into a cultural centre was undertaken. The municipality of Vidin has been working for two decades to enhance the Jewish cultural heritage of the city.