19th century Polish synagogue to be renovated for cultural center

A former 19th century synagogue building in northern Poland will be renovated and used as a cultural center.

The municipality of Koronowo signed a contract this week to renovate the dilapidated building, which it owns, for $ 625,000. The works are to last until May 2016.

The city of Koronowo bought the synagogue building from the Jewish community in the 1930s. The building was used as a warehouse, a movie house and a sports hall. In recent years the roof was repaired to protect the building from devastation and to allow tourists to visit it.

The renovation will be done by the Korbud Company, which previously worked on the building of a former yeshiva in Lublin.

In the synagogue the walls will be painted, the stairs and floors renovated, the floors replaced. The renovated building will not be used for religious functions, but rather for cultural and educational events.