The largest synagogue in the Balkans, the Sofia Synagogue was designed by the court architect Friedrich Grunanger. Completed in 1909, regular religious services are held there, with the exception of the period between 1943 and 1944, when most of Sofia’s Jews were deported to the provinces. The deportation of Bulgarian Jews to Nazi camps during the Second World War was halted by a strong public outcry.

In 1982, the then Minister of Culture attempted to convert the Sofia Synagogue into a concert hall. However, this did not happen due to the strong reaction from the Jewish community in Bulgaria, and the building retained its status as a synagogue. In 1956, the Sofia Synagogue was designated a cultural monument of national importance.