And what if your next conference were held in an Art Nouveau former synagogue? Sankt Pölten, The regional capital of the Land of Lower Austria, less than 30 minutes from Vienna by train, the former synagogue, damaged during the Kristallnacht in 1938, was Aryanized later and returned to Jewish worship in 1945, was reconstructed identically in the 1980s. Finally, after a major renovation between 2022 and 2024, the former synagogue, desacralized since the 1980s due to the tragic events it experienced during its history, has become a multicultural and memorial space.
The synagogue is in fact a remarkable historical building. Inaugurated in 1913, the religious edifice was built in the Art Nouveau style. With its volutes, large windows and walls adorned with floral motifs, the old synagogue was among the most remarkable Jewish religious buildings of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy at its inauguration.
Today, it offers an exceptional heritage setting for a MICE event. The room once reserved for prayer can accommodate up to 200 people and is equally suitable for a conference, a concert, a reception or a dinner. In addition, there is a «Forum» seminar room that can accommodate up to 50 people, and the foyer with its garden can accommodate 100 participants.
Three formulas are offered to the organizers: an Event Package for the day, a half-day formula up to four hours, and a Business Package around the Forum.
The location is easily accessible by public transport or on foot, 15 minutes from the historic center of Sankt Pölten. Parking options are nearby, while four-star hotels and several restaurants are located in the immediate vicinity of the former synagogue.
The former synagogue in Sankt Pölten is now one of the addresses that seek to break away from the conventional MICE events model. Managed by the company of the Bas-Autriche Museum, which also includes the history museum and the natural science museum, the former synagogue has a team of professionals that offers both all the modern technical equipment and catering options.
One of the main MICE arguments for the site is its ability to integrate a cultural dimension directly into the event’s program. Organizers can indeed offer participants a presentation on the history of the memorial, as well as a guided tour of the exhibition dedicated to the Jewish community of Sankt Pölten.
The synagogue is adjacent to the regional government district, which includes offices, the museum, the parliament, and the festival center—two contemporary buildings of impressive architecture. The district, at one time one of the largest public construction projects in Europe, reminds us that Sankt Pölten only became the regional capital of the Land of Lower Austria in 1986. The city is thus celebrating this year the 40th anniversary of its status.
And finally, there is the historic city of Sankt Pölten, which also represents an asset for event organizers. With its 65,000 inhabitants, the city offers a very high quality of life with its historic pedestrian streets where baroque palaces and houses are interspersed. A good alternative to the nearby Vienna, with service prices in the local hotels often more affordable than in the Austrian capital!
Practical information
How to get to Sankt Pölten: At least two trains per hour connect Vienna Central Station (Wien Hbf) to Sankt Pölten with a journey time of 30 minutes. There is also a connection every hour from the railway station of the Vienna airport with a journey time of 50 to 55 minutes.
Stay
– Cityhotel D&C St.Pölten. The largest four-star hotel in the city, perfectly equipped for congress groups with 136 rooms, a restaurant and a bar. Less than ten minutes from the train station (https://www.cityhotel-dc.at/en).
– B&B Hotel St. Pölten. This functional and contemporary three-star hotel has 105 rooms. It is 1.5 km from the train station, which can be reached in 5 minutes by car or 15 minutes on foot. (https://www.hotel-bb.com/en/hotel/st-poelten)
Find out more
All the MICE offers and contacts on https://www.stpoeltentourismus.at/en/convention or Destination Management & Convention Bureau Sankt Pölten Tel: +43 2742 5011;
Email: incoming@st-poelten.gv.at
