Joden Savanne

Near Carolina, Para District, Suriname

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Joden Savanne, located near Carolina in the Para District of Suriname, was one of the earliest and most important Jewish settlements in the Americas.

Founded in the 17th century by Sephardi Jewish settlers who had fled persecution, it developed into a prosperous plantation community along the Suriname River and became the center of Jewish life in the colony. The settlement included plantations, a synagogue known as Beracha Ve Shalom, and extensive cemeteries.

 Its prosperity relied on plantation agriculture worked by enslaved Africans, making the site an important place for understanding both Jewish history and the history of slavery in Suriname. Today, visitors can explore the atmospheric ruins of the synagogue and historic cemeteries surrounded by tropical forest. Recognized for its exceptional historical significance, Jodensavanne Archaeological Site, together with the Cassipora Creek Cemetery, was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2023.