Experience history where it really took place:
The RothenburgMuseum and Cultural Heritage Bavaria offer this unique tour on Jewish life in Rothenburg. Every Saturday at 2:30 PM, visitors can discover traces of the Jewish heritage in the city – from the Judaica collection in the RothenburgMuseum to Judengasse 10, one of the oldest Jewish residential houses in Germany with its impressive mikveh from the 15th century.
The tour begins at the RothenburgMuseum, where participants gain an initial insight into the culture and history of the Jewish population in the city. The museum's Judaica collection displays religious and everyday objects that make Jewish life in medieval Rothenburg visible. From there, the tour leads to Judengasse – a quarter regarded as one of the best-preserved Jewish urban neighborhoods from the late Middle Ages in Germany and beyond. Upon arrival at Judengasse 10, guests experience a house that has preserved over 600 years of history and today stands as a monument of national significance under the care of Cultural Heritage Bavaria. After an introduction to the eventful building history of the structure, the tour takes visitors to the heart of the house: the mikveh in the basement – the only preserved ritual bath of this time in Germany, still existing with its original residential house.
Judengasse 10 is the first project that Cultural Heritage Bavaria has taken over and restored. The non-profit initiative has been committed since 2015, following the example of the British National Trust, to the preservation of Bavarian cultural treasures and making them accessible to the public.
“With this tour, we show how lively monument protection can be,” says Dr. Sybille Krafft, Chairwoman of the Cultural Heritage Bavaria Association. “Judengasse 10 tells a story that has significance far beyond Rothenburg. Through collaboration with the RothenburgMuseum, we make a piece of the Jewish heritage of this city experienceable for everyone – with knowledge, emotions, and an authentic place.”
“This cooperation is a milestone for cultural education in Rothenburg,” emphasizes Dr. Jörg Christöphler, Tourism Director of the city of Rothenburg. “The combination of museum exhibits with an authentic historical building gives visitors a completely new perspective. They experience history not just as an exhibition but at the place where it really happened.”
With the tour, the RothenburgMuseum and Cultural Heritage Bavaria set an important impulse: Jewish history becomes visible, tangible, and remains in memory. “It is particularly important to us to bridge with this tour concept, starting from the RothenburgMuseum into the urban space. We aim to create an offer that allows for a comprehensive engagement with the Jewish history of Rothenburg, even beyond the museum walls. We are pleased to have Cultural Heritage Bavaria as a partner for this project, for whom the Jewish heritage of our city plays as central a role as it does for our house. Visitors can not only dive into the past but also understand the significance of this heritage for our present,” explains Franziska Krause, Head of the RothenburgMuseum.
Please note that due to the structural conditions in the historic buildings visited, this tour unfortunately cannot be offered barrier-free and is therefore not suitable for wheelchair users.
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