The Renovation

In the late 1970ies it was conceivable that no new Jewish Religious Community was to be founded. The IKG Vienna, which had only expenses but no advantages from maintaining the building, made an application for demolition.

Based on the size and the significance of the building, the Federal Monuments Office under Hofrat Werner Kitlitschka obtained an expertise. The art historian Renate Wagner-Rieger asserted the following in it: "Altogether this building will have to be looked at as an extremely characteristic one for its time of origin which has wrenched from the prevailing taste (often termed as ›Viennese Baroque‹) an autonomous artistic approach."

Maintenance and refurbishment works started in Summer 1980. The planning department of the municipality St. Pölten took over the site management, the Federal Monuments Office was responsible for the interior renovation. The impressive mural ornaments were restored by the Perchtoldsdorf Company Alois Fichtinger under the direction of restorer Heliane Jarisch in accordance with the preserved original stencils. The sculptor Loidl restored the Torah shrine. The colourful leaded lights could not be saved nor were the Hebrew inscriptions within the ornament reconstructed.

The overall costs amounted to 15 million Austrian Schilling and were borne and shared by the Republic of Austria, the province of Lower Austria, the municipality of St. Pölten and the IKG Vienna.

Following a necessary renovation and adaptation from autumn 2022, the building is accessible on all levels since April 2024. The roof was renewed and the lighting and room technology were improved. The conversion into a modern centre for exhibitions, cultural events and history education was funded in equal parts by the federal government, the province of Lower Austria and the city of St. Pölten. The Former Synagogue St. Pölten is now an institution of the NÖ Museum Betriebs GesmbH and is open from mid-April to mid-November from Tue-Fri, 10.00-17.00 and Sat, Sun, Bank Holiday, 10.00-18.00.

Further information can be found here: Former Synagogue St. Pölten