Nouvelle synagogue

You are now standing in front of Berlin’s New Synagogue, or rather a faithful reconstruction, as the original building was destroyed during World War II bombings.
When it first opened in 1866, it was the largest synagogue in Germany. Along with New York’s synagogue, it was one of the largest in the world with enough space for nearly 3,000 worshippers;reflecting the dynamism of Berlin’s Jewish community at the end of the 19th century. By 1933, there were 160,000 Jewish citizens living in the city.
The synagogue’s architectural style was inspired by the Alhambra in Granada, featuring numerous Moorish elements. Standing 50 meters above ground, its gold-leaf-covered dome remains a striking sight to this day.
Oddly enough, the Nazis never completely managed to destroy the synagogue. During the infamous Night of Broken Glass on the 9th of November 1938, Hitler ordered coordinated attacks on Jewish communities. That night, around a hundred Jews were murdered, 30,000 others were deported, and numerous synagogues, homes, and businesses were set on fire.
The New Synagogue was vandalized, but saved from being burnt to the ground by a police officer. He intervened to stop the destruction and called the fire brigade. Even during the war, the Nazis chose not to burn it down by fear of setting fire to the neighbouring buildings. Instead, the synagogue was converted into a military warehouse.
In the end, it was the Allied bombings of 1943 that reduced it to ashes.
After the war, the façade was reconstructed identically with a few surviving stones marking the location of the original temple.
Today, the building is home to the Jewish Center, an art gallery, as well as a memorial.
The dome is also open to visitors, though it is not free.