The Great Synagogue (Velká synagoga) stands a few minutes west of Republic Square and is hard to miss — the Moorish towers and polychrome brick façade are startling even by the flamboyant standards of 19th-century synagogue architecture. Built in 1892 to designs by the Munich architects Fleissig and Stiassny, the building follows a pattern common across Central Europe for the period: Moorish Revival outside, neoclassical interior with two galleries.
The interior is lavishly decorated with painted stucco, Hebrew inscriptions, and art nouveau details added in the early 20th century. A small permanent exhibition on the history of Plzeň's Jewish community occupies part of the building. The synagogue is open to visitors daily in summer; opening hours are reduced in winter. Entry is charged; audio guides are available in several languages. It is worth visiting even if you have no particular interest in Jewish history — the building itself is simply one of the most impressive in the city.