The Great Synagogue was the largest and most important Jewish place of prayer in prewar Oświęcim. It was built in the second half of the nineteenth century on the site of the town's first synagogue from 1588, which was destroyed several times in the course of its history because of fires and wars.

On the night of 29/30 November 1939. The Germans set fire to and destroyed the Great Synagogue. A year later, the first Auschwitz prisoners were sent to demolish the remains of the building.

Today, on the site of the Great Synagogue there is a Memorial Park.