Gerguş Synagogu

One of the striking traces left by the Ottoman Empire in history is undoubtedly the acceptance of Jewish people who were forcibly removed from Spain. Thus, the Jews in Spain, whose number was 300 thousand in the 15th century, were taken to the Lands of the Ottoman Empire and provided to lead the Jewish generation in Bursa that dates back to today.

Gerguş Synagogue is opened in the 16th century as part of services for the Jewish presence in Bursa. Synagogue, which is in a very good condition today, bears traces of the cultural heritage of the Jews in the Ottoman Empire for hundreds of years and fills the eye with its architecture.

The synagogue, named after the Hebrew word ‘gerush’, which means ‘banished, exiled’, is a full-fledged building for Jews where they can perform their religious worship. The place of worship, which continues to serve today as it did 500 years ago, is among the important religious buildings visited by many tourists who come to visit Bursa today.

Geruş Synagogue, whose architecture is seen to be rectangular, was built by II.Selim being one of Sultans of The Ottoman Empire.

Reflecting the architectural tradition of the period with its two doors, columns, marble floors and cut stone walls, the synagogue, which even today fills the eye with its splendor, enhances its visual appearance with its spiral staircase. The Gerush Synagogue, which reflects the grandeur of simplicity just like the works of Mimar Sinan, reinforces the mysticism of its atmosphere with its carpets and chandeliers.

Finally, it is worth noting that the Gerush synagogue, where 150 people can worship at the same time, is a place of worship that is open to visitors every day of the year, including Eid holidays.