Backyard synagogue

After the Jewish population of Telgte grew to three families, a 200-year-old half-timbered storehouse located behind the house of Telgte's oldest Jewish family was extended by two storeys and converted into a synagogue. Remains of the barrel vault, the Torah shrine, the bima, the staircase to the women's gallery and one of the four large windows have been preserved.

In 1875, a new building was put into operation in Königstraße, as the old building was dilapidated, difficult to access and too small for the congregation, which had grown to around 60 people. The former synagogue was used as a shed by one of the Jewish neighbors (house at Steinstrasse 4). One part was separated off and used as a kosher slaughterhouse. A pulley block, an iron ceiling hook and a floor ring for tying up the animals can still be seen.

The former synagogue was forcibly sold as a "shed" together with the house at Steinstraße 4 in November 1938. It was rediscovered during research work in 1980 and finally entered in the list of monuments. After extensive restoration, it has been open to the public on guided tours since 2023.