When you visit Bucharest, Romania, you can explore the historic Choral Temple (Templul Coral), an active Orthodox Jewish synagogue located at 9-11 Sf. Vineri Street. As you approach this remarkable site, you will notice its stunning Moorish Revival style architecture. Designed by Enderle and Freiwald and completed in 1866 after construction began in 1864, the synagogue was built as a very close copy of Vienna's Leopoldstadt-Tempelgasse Great Synagogue, which was built between 1855 and 1858.
When you step inside, you will encounter a place shaped by historical resilience. The synagogue was devastated by far-right Legionaries in January 1941, but it was later restored after World War II in 1945. During your visit, you can see the beautiful main hall, which was recently refurbished and officially re-opened in 2015. Today, the Choral Temple stands as one of the few active synagogues in Bucharest and throughout Romania.
As you tour the grounds, keep in mind that it still hosts daily religious services in the small hall. Experiencing this grand active house of worship gives you an unforgettable connection to Romanian Jewish heritage.
What to see at Templul Coral
- Distinctive Moorish Revival style architecture designed by Enderle and Freiwald.
- A close architectural copy of Vienna's 1850s Leopoldstadt-Tempelgasse Great Synagogue.
- Rich historical resilience, restored in 1945 following devastation in January 1941.
- Beautifully refurbished main hall that officially re-opened in 2015.
- One of the few active synagogues in Romania, hosting daily religious services.
Visiting tips
Please remain mindful during your visit, as the synagogue continues to host daily religious services in its small hall.
How long: 1-2 hours · Best time: During daily service hours
How to get there & what’s nearby
Templul Coral is easy to reach on Bucharest’s public transport, and pairs naturally with Palace of the Parliament and Romanian Peasant Museum. For where to stay, the weather and full itineraries, see our Bucharest travel guide.
See the full Bucharest travel guide for where to stay, the best time to visit and the top things to do.