Synagogue of Besançon

{{Short description|Synagogue located in Besançon, France}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}

{{Infobox religious building

| name = Synagogue of Besançon

| native_name =

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| image = Synagogue Besançon.jpg

| image_upright = 1.4

| alt =

| caption = The synagogue in 2006

| religious_affiliation = Judaism

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| deity =

| rite = Nusach Ashkenaz

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| organisational_status = Synagogue

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| functional_status = Active

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| location = 23 Quai de Strasbourg, Battant, Besançon, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté

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| country = France

| map_type = France

| map_size = 250

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| map_relief = 1

| map_caption = Location of the synagogue in France

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| coordinates = {{coord|47|14|26|N|6|01|15|E|region:FR_type:landmark_source:kolossus-frwiki|display=title,inline}}

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| heritage_designation =

| architect = Pierre Marnotte

| architecture_type = Synagogue architecture

| architecture_style = Moorish Revival

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| established = 1807 {{small|(as a congregation)}}

| groundbreaking =

| year_completed = 1870

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| materials = Stone

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| module = {{Infobox historic site | embed = yes

| designation1 = France

| designation1_offname = Synagogue

| designation1_type = Base Mérimée

| designation1_criteri18 a =

| designation1_date = 16 November 1984

| delisted1_date =

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| designation1_number = PA00101610

}}

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}}

{{Expand French|Synagogue de Besançon|fa=yes|date=December 2011|topic=struct}}

The Synagogue of Besançon is a Jewish congregation and synagogue, located at 23 Quai de Strasbourg, in the Battant area, near the old part of town, in the city of Besançon, in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region of France.{{Cite web |title=Migrations à Besançon, histoire et mémoires - Passé et présent de la communauté juive de Besançon |url=https://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/index2.php?url=http://migrations.besancon.fr/histoire/1800-1914/739-passe-et-present-de-la-communaute-juive-de-besancon.html |access-date=2023-01-26 |website=archive.wikiwix.com |language=fr}} The stone synagogue was built in 1869 and was inaugurated on 18 November.{{Cite web |title=Synagogue 23 Quai de Strasbourg : 25000 Besançon Besancon |url=https://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/index2.php?url=http://www.besac.com/tourisme-besancon/synagogue/23.htm#federation=archive.wikiwix.com&tab=url |access-date=2023-01-26 |website=archive.wikiwix.com |language=fr}}

A Jewish community formed in Free Imperial City of Besançon in the 14th century, after the expulsion of Jews from the Kingdom of France, but was forced to leave shortly thereafter. It did not reestablish itself until shortly after the French Revolution, in 1807. The congregation built its first synagogue on Rue de la Madeleine, in the Battant district in 1831. However, it proved too small for the growing congregation.{{cite web |url=https://jguideeurope.org/en/region/france/bourgogne-franche-comte/besancon/ |title=Besançon |work=The Cultural Guide to Jewish Europe |date=n.d. |access-date=14 June 2024 }}

An Imperial Decree dated 22 May 1867 authorized the community to acquire land on the Quai Napoléon. The community then entrusted the local architect Pierre Marnotte with the commission to design a building "in the Moroccan style".{{cite web |url=https://cja.huji.ac.il/mhs/browser.php?mode=set&id=24453 |title=Synagogue in Besançon |work=Historic Synagogues of Europe |publisher=Foundation for Jewish Heritage and the Center for Jewish Art at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem |date=n.d. |access-date=14 June 2024 }} The building was listed as a monument historiques on 16 November 1984.{{Base Mérimée|PA00101610|Synagogue}}