Construction of the tourist information center next to the synagogue in Vidin has been completed. The synagogue is currently being renovated with funds under a European project. It is expected that by the end of November 2022, the 125-year-old synagogue will be completely restored and will open doors to tourists. In addition to the tourist information center there will also be a café and relaxation area in an auxiliary building. "The idea is to create a more interesting and attractive environment in the area of the synagogue," the project manager, arch. Angel Nedyalkov says and adds:

"On the ground floor, there will be a multi-functional hall that will serve various purposes, depending on the type of the events. In the same building there will be a permanent exhibition of Jules Pascin, as well as a permanent exhibition that will show moments from the history of the building itself. There will be a 50-square-meter room for benefactors and for the Jewish community, as well as a small library... The goal is to provide more convenience to visitors."

Meanwhile, the restoration of the synagogue and its transformation into a cultural center, named after the artist of Jewish origin Jules Pascin /1885-1930/, who was born in Vidin, continues. The synagogue's restorers also face some challenges:

"We have been working mainly on pouring additional foundations to strengthen the building," architect Angel Nedyalkov says. “When the building is strengthened, we will start working on its upper parts. This is a delicate work and it is very different in comparison to constructing a new building."

The Vidin Synagogue was built at the end of the 19th century and is the second largest synagogue in Bulgaria. People also refer to it as the "White Swan" because of its beautiful facade, which in the past was visible even from the banks of the Danube River. After 1949, however, the synagogue ceased to function as a religious place and until the 1960s it was used by communist authorities for various non-religious purposes, after which the building was abandoned.

The restoration of the unique cultural monument became possible thanks to the joint efforts of the Organization of Jews in Bulgaria "Shalom" and the municipality of Vidin that secured financing under the Operational Program "Regions in Growth" totaling about 5 million euros.

• Vidin Synagogue revives as cultural center named after Jules Pascin
  
  

Compiled by: Veneta Nikolova /based on articles by Stefka Pavlova and Nedka Lilkova, BNR-Vidin/

English: Alexander Markov