Tucked between rows of ordinary townhouses on Božkova Street in Český Těšín, the former Schomre-Schabos Synagogue is a surprising architectural gem — a richly decorated building in eclectic Moorish style that survived the Second World War and still stands as a testament to the Jewish heritage of the Teschen region. Today it serves as the clubhouse of the Polish Cultural and Educational Association (PZKO), giving this historic building a vibrant new purpose.

The facade alone is worth a visit — tall Moorish windows with elaborately profiled frames, decorative cornices and a striking entrance portal with donkey-back arches make it unmistakable among the surrounding residential buildings. The atmosphere is quietly atmospheric: a place that invites you to slow down and reflect on the layered history of this border town, where Czech, Polish and Jewish cultures have long intertwined.

• Český Těšín town centre — the building is on Božkova Street, easily walkable from the main square or the railway station.

• The synagogue is a listed cultural monument of the Czech Republic.
• The interior is used by the PZKO association — access may be possible during cultural events hosted there.
• The facade was restored in 2009, including the original windows.

The building survived Nazi occupation purely by accident — it was spared from burning because its location between terraced houses posed too great a fire risk to neighbouring properties. That twist of fate preserved one of the finest examples of Moorish revival architecture in the Moravian-Silesian Region.