House of the Inquisition - Monsaraz Jewish History Interactive Centre

The Jewish memory in a medieval village.

The local tradition regards this building as the House of the Inquisition. However, it was not the Court of the Inquisition, because the small village of Monsaraz never had a similar structure and the Holy Office of Évora carried out the trials. This House of the Inquisition operated as a shelter to the Holy Office or, at most, as a temporary stay for the defendants before they went to Évora.

The House of the Inquisition - Monsaraz Jewish History Interactive Centre, installed in this symbolic building, makes the Jewish memory in Monsaraz known. It has an area dedicated to the heritage and history of Monsaraz and several thematic rooms: “Religion and Man”, centred in the so-called Book Religions (Christianity, Judaism and Islam); “Judaism in Monsaraz”, a space dedicated to the Jewish history and presence in Monsaraz, developed according to the documents and artefacts.

The Centre also has a work office and reception for researchers and students, providing tools for the development of scientific research.

Finally, in the Past/Future Space, one can see images of the Inquisition, the Holocaust and the wars and the religious conflicts to show the suffering of the Jewish people, so that history does not repeat itself.