Erfurt boasts a rich historical heritage and one of the largest contiguous medieval old towns in Europe. Within the city center are three buildings that are now considered among the most significant legacies of humanity: The Old Synagogue is one of the oldest synagogues in Central Europe preserved up to its roof. Today, the building, whose earliest traces date back to around 1094, houses a museum with artifacts of medieval Jewish life in the city. Not far away is a medieval ritual bath, a mikveh, and also located in the old town is the so-called Stone House, built around 1250. Thuringia is now home to five World Heritage Sites: the Bauhaus in Weimar was awarded this title in 1996; Classical Weimar, the place where Goethe and Schiller worked, in 1998; Wartburg Castle near Eisenach was added to the UNESCO list in 1999; and the ancient beech forests in the Hainich National Park in 2011. (hw)
Erfurt's Jewish-medieval heritage achieves world renown
North facade of the Old Synagogue in Erfurt's old town. Image: www.unesco.de/pressefotos - © Pro Denkmal
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