A new exhibition space and cultural center provides yet another reason to leave the beaches behind and venture into the old town of Balatonfüred. The House of Jewish Excellence tells the story of more than a hundred scientists, doctors and mathematicians, while the new community space will stage concerts and workshops in the future.
The former Saint Margaret Church, later repurposed as a synagogue, has now become a new cultural resource in Balatonfüred. The building also once served as a bus garage, a shipyard warehouse, and even as a medieval-themed restaurant over the last few years. Now as a cultural center, it is open to everyone from Wednesdays to Sundays.
Upon entering the new building by the former synagogue, you can either jump into the interactive exhibition entitled “From Einstein to the Present Day – Jews in the Forefront of Technology”, or you can walk into the refurbished church area.
On the ground floor, where the exhibitions starts, you can decide whose life story you’d like to learn more about. All tolled, there are more than a hundred Jewish scholars and doctors to choose from. The exhibition continues on the first floor where you can test your newly gained knowledge on Sigmund Freud, Ede Teller or Mark Zuckerberg.
The original building that was renewed has a very different atmosphere. According to the main organizer of the exhibition, they want this to be a space for various events from concerts to markets showcasing local producers. The original purpose of the building is indicated by a restored Torah ark that was rescued from Budapest, made by the world-famous stained-glass and mosaic artist, Miksa Róth.
