F. Mentényi Klára szerk.: Műemlékvédelmi Szemle 1997/1-2. szám Az Országos Műemléki Felügyelőség tájékoztatója (Budapest, 1997)

MŰHELY - Sedlmayr János: A soproni középkori magánzsinagóga újbóli helyreállítása

János SEDLMAYR THE NEWEST RECONSTRUCTIONS OF THE PRIVATELY USED MEDIEVAL SYNAGOGUE IN SOPRON Forty years ago, in 1957 it was proved that in the court wing of the dwelling house no 11. Uj (New) street a medieval synagogue had remained. The investigation and reconstruction was made with several mistakes as the theoretical and architectural characteristics of medieval synagoues had not been known at that timne. At the end of the sixties another medieval synagogue was discovered on the lots Új street nos 22-24, the so called Old Synagogue. Research had proved that the synagogue found and reconstructed earlier was a privately used synagogue built between 1360-1450, while the other by 1976 restored building complex was publicly used. The architectural characteristics of medieval synagogues became gradually known partly as a result of the mistakes made at the first reconsruction, and partly following the discovery of the other medieval synagogue. (The researcher was later in the case of both buildings Ferenc Dávid.) It became clear that one-room, approximately 6x9 m size synagogues appear in several places, so they represent a type. In the eighties the building's construction was deteriorated to a considerable extent as the neighbouring wing attached to its eastern end was pulled down. In the first part of the ninties, following an authenticative investigation, a new plan was made, changing earlier works in several aspects. The new reconstruction made after forty years made possible the drawing of several consequences. Concerning medieval synagogues a large amount of knowledge has been accumulated in the course of the last 35 years in Hungarian monument protection. The building characteristics of our medieval towns became also well known. Even experts taking part in the reconstruction have deepened their knowledge. Generally the characteristics of medieval buildings - churches, castles, town houses - are better known today. In the case of the Sopron synagogue it can be proved that the earlier reconstruction has changed for better - like the high hipped-roof, the nothern main entrance, the reconsruction of the bima and the completion of the tora-niche. Several historical facts were made more evident. Different formal elements - like the group of three windows on the eastern side, the framing of the main entrance and its tympanium field - were authentically reconstructed. The medieval building of the surroundings is also clear now, like the size of the lot, the situation of the synagogue, and then the late Gotic rebuilding in dwelling house form.