Old Synagogue Erfurt: History, the Erfurt Treasure and UNESCO World Heritage

6 hours ago

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Written by Holger Kämmer

In the middle of Erfurt's old town, tucked away in a small lane near the Merchants' Bridge, stands one of the most important Jewish buildings in Europe. The Old Synagogue is considered the oldest synagogue in Central Europe preserved up to its roof. Its oldest parts date from around 1094. Since 2023, it has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site "Jewish-Medieval Heritage of Erfurt".

The Old Synagogue at a glance

Location: Waagegasse, Erfurt old town, a few steps from the Merchants' Bridge and Fischmarkt
Oldest parts: around 1094
Museum: since 2009
Exhibition: the Erfurt Treasure and Hebrew manuscripts
UNESCO World Heritage: since 2023, together with the mikveh and the Stone House

History: centuries out of sight

In the Middle Ages, Erfurt was home to a large and prosperous Jewish community. Its synagogue was built from the late 11th century and extended several times. In 1349, at the time of the great plague, the community was wiped out in a pogrom.

The city took over the building and turned it into a warehouse. Later, intermediate floors were added, and in the 19th and 20th centuries it housed a dance hall and a restaurant, among other things. These very conversions protected the synagogue: hidden behind new uses, it survived.

Only in the 1990s was its significance rediscovered. The city of Erfurt acquired the building, had it carefully restored and opened a museum there in 2009.

The Erfurt Treasure

In 1998, construction workers in Michaelisstraße, just a few streets from the synagogue, made an extraordinary find: a treasure probably hidden during the pogrom of 1349. It includes more than 3,000 silver coins, 14 silver ingots and over 700 pieces of goldsmith's work. The most famous piece is an exquisite Jewish wedding ring.

Today, the Erfurt Treasure is on display in the cellar of the Old Synagogue and is one of the reasons the museum attracts visitors from all over the world.

UNESCO World Heritage in Erfurt

Since 2023, Erfurt's Jewish-medieval heritage has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List. It comprises three sites:

the Old Synagogue
the mikveh, a medieval Jewish ritual bath on the river Gera, rediscovered in 2007
the Stone House, a medieval residential building of a Jewish owner

Tips for your visit

Allow time: Plan about an hour for the exhibition and the treasury.
Opening hours: Current times and admission prices are published by the city of Erfurt on its website.
Visit the mikveh: The ritual bath is close by and can be visited on guided tours.
Combine: The Merchants' Bridge is just a few minutes' walk away, and the Petersberg is about a quarter of an hour on foot.

The Old Synagogue as a kit

Our Old Synagogue Erfurt kit shows the side view with its gabled roof and distinctive windows. It has 10 wooden pieces, is about 4.6 cm wide and comes in a matchbox. It is made in Germany from local wood, as a small tribute to our city's Jewish-medieval heritage. More designs from Erfurt: Landmarks as wooden kits.

Frequently asked questions

How old is the Old Synagogue in Erfurt?

Its oldest parts date from around 1094, making it the oldest synagogue in Central Europe preserved up to its roof.

What is the Erfurt Treasure?

A hoard from the 14th century discovered in 1998, with more than 3,000 silver coins, 14 silver ingots and over 700 pieces of goldsmith's work, including a Jewish wedding ring. It is on display in the Old Synagogue.