From REDISCOVER to People Powered Tourism: a Shared Commitment to the Future of the Fabric Synagogue in Timișoara

During our partner meeting held on 24–26 February 2026 in Timișoara, the partnership of the Interreg Danube Region project People Powered Tourism visited the Fabric neighbourhood and its emblematic landmark, the Fabric Synagogue. The study visit was not only a professional programme element of the urban pilot activities, but also a symbolic return to a site that has long connected our transnational cooperation efforts.

A legacy of the REDISCOVER project

Between 2018 and 2021, the Interreg Danube Transnational project Rediscover, expose and exploit the concealed Jewish heritage of the Danube Region (REDISCOVER), led by the Municipality of Szeged, worked closely with Jewish communities to explore and raise awareness of tangible and intangible Jewish heritage across the region.

Within this framework, the Lead Partner visited Timișoara in spring 2020, where they were hosted by the Municipality of Timișoara and the local Jewish community. The visit coincided with the 160th anniversary of the birth of the renowned synagogue architect Lipót Baumhorn, whose work shaped numerous synagogues across Central and Eastern Europe.

During this visit the Lead Partner observed the severely deteriorated Fabric Synagogue in the historic Fabric (Gyárváros) district. Recognising the urgency of its situation, the Municipality of Szeged, as lead partner, sought to draw international attention to this outstanding yet endangered piece of Jewish built heritage.

https://jewish-heritage-europe.eu/have-your-say/the-sad-grandeur-of-the-fabric-synagogue/

International recognition and a turning point

Although the REDISCOVER project concluded in 2021, its international networking impact endured. Through connections established by the Lead Partner with the AEPJ and the World Monuments Fund, the local Jewish community submitted an application to the World Monuments Watch programme. The Fabric Synagogue was subsequently selected for inclusion on the World Monuments Watch list in 2022, ranking it among the 250 most endangered cultural heritage sites worldwide and marking it as a site of global conservation concern. Furthermore, as part of the World Monuments Watch 2024 initiative, the Fabric Synagogue was identified by the World Monuments Fund as a site at risk of losing its historical integrity; therefore, a series of events were organized for the public to engage with the history of the synagoge through guided tours, workshops, and discussions that highlighted the cultural significance of Jewish heritage in the region.

A decisive institutional step also followed. In October 2023, the Municipality of Timișoara took over the administration of the synagogue for 49 years. In October 2024, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed with the World Monuments Fund, which committed to providing the design brief and technical requirements for the adaptive refunctionalisation of the building. By the end of 2024, securing works had begun, and the architectural office was commissioned by the World Monuments Fund to develop the professional framework for the synagogue’s transformation.

Extensive consultative workshops held in spring 2025 brought together cultural and educational institutions, NGOs, business and public administration representatives, members of the Jewish and Fabric communities, civic associations, and architecture and urban planning experts. The result is a shared vision: the Fabric Synagogue is planned to become a community center, youth educational hub and exhibition space — a living public venue rooted in its historical identity.

A new chapter: People Powered Tourism and the Fabric pilot area

In 2025, the Municipality of Szeged once again assumed the role of Lead Partner in a new Interreg Danube project, People Powered Tourism. Timișoara is again part of the partnership, this time represented by its Destination Management Organization.

Within the project, the Fabric neighbourhood has been designated as Timișoara’s urban pilot area, with the Fabric Synagogue as one of its key focal points. The February 2026 partner meeting therefore offered an opportunity for the partnership to witness first-hand the progress achieved since the difficult days documented during the REDISCOVER project.

The visit also connected to the SHIFT project launched in 2025 by the Timișoara partner, which aims to support innovative, community-driven urban development initiatives. Together, these efforts demonstrate how heritage preservation, participatory planning and sustainable tourism development can reinforce each other.

https://visit-timisoara.com/project-shift/

Continuity in co-operation

The story of the Fabric Synagogue illustrates the long-term impact of transnational co-operation. What began as a heritage awareness-raising activity within REDISCOVER has evolved into a complex, internationally supported rehabilitation and adaptive reuse process. Today, under the framework of People Powered Tourism, the site is not only a symbol of shared Jewish heritage in the Danube Region, but also a catalyst for community-based urban regeneration in the Fabric district.

Our recent visit reaffirmed a key principle shared across both projects: safeguarding cultural heritage is not solely about preserving buildings — it is about empowering communities, strengthening identity and creating inclusive public spaces for future generations.