Today, a subscription has started to raise funds for the restoration of the oldest known Jewish building in Europe, the ‘Sublime House’ in Rouen.

The building, re-discovered in 1976 underneath the Rouen Courthouse, is estimated to have been built between 1096 and 1116, thus being the oldest presently known Jewish building in Europe.
There are several hypotheses as to the exact purpose of the building: the home of a wealthy merchant, a synagogue or a rabbinic school? In any case, it is an impressive Romanesque building, with thick walls and 3-metres-columns at the base that had supported the estimated 2 or 3 floors on top. The columns are decorated with dragons and lions, and there are several Hebrew graffiti, one of them giving the site its current name: “que cette maison soit sublime” -that this house shall be sublime.
In its time, around 5000 Jewish people are supposed to have been living in a quarter right in the heart of town, until the expulsion of the Jews from France in 1309.

The found-raising initiative starting today, 14 June, has the aim of completing a 780000 Euro restoration budget, financed by the Ministry of Justice, the city of Rouen, the homeland of France and the general Council of the region.
The re-opening of the Sublime House is planned for 2017.