Despite having “New” in its name, the Old-New Synagogue is not only the oldest synagogue in Prague; it’s the oldest in all of Europe, clocking in at over 700 years old. At the heart of Prague’s Jewish town, the Old-New Synagogue has been the main synagogue in Prague ever since it was built. The reason why it’s call the “Old-New Synagogue” is because when it was first built in 1270, it was known as the “New Synagogue”, as there used to be a synagogue even older, but when a spate of other synagogues were built in the 16th century, since it was not so new by that time, it came to be known as the “Old-New” synagogue. The Old-New Synagogue’s age clearly shows in its medieval architectural style, with its saddle roof and Gothic gables; the main prayer hall for men features classically medieval equilateral arches and hanging bronze chandeliers, with a women’s corridor wrapping around the perimeter of the hall. Because it has been in continuous operation since its founding, with the exception of the Nazi years from 1941 to 1945, the Old-New Synagogue has picked up some interesting history―Kafka, for example, was a regular goer when he lived in Prague in the early 1900s. An old legend goes that angels brought stones from King Solomon’s temple in Jerusalem to build the Old-New Synagogue, on the condition that they are returned to rebuild the temple one day.