Built in the late 15th century, the Maribor Synagogue is one of the best-preserved medieval synagogues in Central Europe. It stands on Židovska ulica (Jewish Street), in what was the heart of the medieval Jewish ghetto — a neighbourhood that retains something of its historic character, with narrow lanes and old house fronts that look much as they did five centuries ago.
After the expulsion of the Jewish community in 1496, the building served various secular purposes for centuries, falling into decay. A major restoration project in the 1990s and 2000s brought it back to something close to its original form. Today it operates as a Jewish cultural and heritage centre with a permanent exhibition on the history of Jews in Slovenia and temporary exhibitions on Jewish themes. The main hall has its original Gothic vaulting and gives a strong sense of the medieval interior. Entry is by guided tour, which adds considerably to the experience.