ZION- Preservation of the Jewish Heritage

About the project:

The “Promoting Religious Tourism through the Preservation of the Jewish Heritage of Oradea and Debrecen” project introduced an innovative model for revitalising the Jewish cultural heritage in the cross-border area of Romania and Hungary. In Oradea, an abandoned synagogue (Zion Neolog Synagogue on Independenței st.) of utmost architectural and artistic relevance was restored and repurposed as a venue for cultural events and as a tourist information centre. In Debrecen, the project supported the reconstruction of a synagogue of major historical value (Status Quo Ante Synagogue on Kápolnási st.).

To bring these spaces to life, an itinerant photo exhibition on Jewish history and traditions was organised, offering both locals and visitors an opportunity to discover and appreciate the richness of Jewish cultural heritage.

Code: HURO/1101/052/2.1.3

Financing programme: Hungary-Romania Cross-Border Co-operation Programme 2007-2013

Implementation period: 1 December 2012 – 30 October 2015

Budget: €10,172,739.24

KEY OBJECTIVES

To preserve and revitalise the Jewish cultural heritage of Oradea, Romania, and Debrecen, Hungary;
To restore and consolidate the Zion Neolog Synagogue in Oradea and the Status Quo Ante Synagogue in Debrecen, which were in an advanced state of decay;
To integrate these restored monuments into the region’s tourism and cultural circuit, creating a new model for religious tourism.

THE PARTNERSHIP

Municipality of Oradea – RO;

Jewish Community of Debrecen – HU.

KEY RESULTS

Both the Zion Neolog Synagogue in Oradea and the Status Quo Ante Synagogue in Debrecen were successfully restored.
The Oradea synagogue was transformed into a vibrant cultural center, hosting concerts, exhibitions, and other events.
By 2017, the Zion Neolog Synagogue had attracted over 12,000 visitors, demonstrating its success as a tourist destination.
The project created a valuable and replicable model for cross-border cooperation in the field of heritage preservation and cultural development.