Tour poster: Shadows and Stones: The Medieval Jewish Heart of Erfurt
Red Thread OriginalErfurt
All tours in Erfurt

Self-guided audio tour

Erfurt

Shadows and Stones The Medieval Jewish Heart of Erfurt

History & MemoryIdentity, Migration & Globalization
Distance
1.7 km
Duration
78 min
Route
6 stops

Uncover the hidden history of one of Europe's most prominent medieval Jewish communities. On this immersive journey through Erfurt, you will explore a tale of profound duality: incredible economic prosperity and sudden, devastating persecution.

Max Krämer
Your guide Max Krämer History & Memory
Audio sample

What awaits you on this Red Thread tour

Uncover the hidden history of one of Europe's most prominent medieval Jewish communities. On this immersive journey through Erfurt, you will explore a tale of profound duality: incredible economic prosperity and sudden, devastating persecution. Discover how a magnificent synagogue survived by becoming a dance hall, how a sacred ritual bath was buried and forgotten for 550 years, and how the echoes of a lost community still resonate in the city's stones today. This is a story of erasure, miraculous preservation, and the enduring human spirit.

Your in-app experience

This is how the Red Thread app brings your tour to life.

Red Thread guides you through the city's stories that you won't find in any guidebook. Authentically and compellingly told by our experts and locals.

Home
01

Home

Get inspired and choose a story that fits your location and your mood.

Search for tours directly
02

Search for tours directly

Use the map to find tours in your city or at a specific address.

Redeem in the app
03

Redeem in the app

Redeem purchased tours or City Passes in the app using a voucher code or QR code.

Start well prepared
04

Start well prepared

Explore the route, stops, and many additional features for your experience.

Listen where it happened
05

Listen where it happened

Hear the stories where they happened.

Ask your guide
06

Ask your guide

Get extra context, deeper details, or useful tips nearby.

Collect discoveries
07

Collect discoveries

Build your travel passport and explore fascinating insights.

Itinerary

1

TOUR START

Alte Synagoge (Old Synagogue)

The oldest intact synagogue in Central Europe, which survived centuries of history by being repurposed as a warehouse and a dance hall.

Alte Synagoge (Old Synagogue)

Pic by Michael Sander on Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)

0.22 km • 3 min
2

STOP 2

Das Steinhaus (The Stone House)

A rare surviving medieval secular building owned by Jewish merchants, illustrating the wealth and everyday domestic life of Erfurt's Jewish elite.

Das Steinhaus (The Stone House)

Pic by Florean Fortescue on Wikimedia Commons (CC0)

0.32 km • 5 min
3

STOP 3

Mittelalterliche Mikwe (Medieval Mikveh)

A 13th-century ritual bath discovered by accident in 2007, highlighting the spiritual practices of the community and the theme of rediscovering buried heritage.

Mittelalterliche Mikwe (Medieval Mikveh)

Pic by Z thomas on Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0)

0.28 km • 4 min
4

STOP 4

Erfurter Rathaus (City Hall)

The political center of the city, where the fate of the Jewish community was sealed during the devastating Black Death pogrom of 1349.

Erfurter Rathaus (City Hall)

Pic by H. Zell on Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)

0.33 km • 5 min
5

STOP 5

Große Arche

A street that was once the heart of the medieval Jewish quarter, offering a space to reflect on the spatial reality of the community and the void left after 1349.

Große Arche

Pic by TOMMES-WIKI on Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)

0.51 km • 8 min
6

END

Kleine Synagoge (Small Synagogue)

Built in 1840, this site represents the eventual return of Jewish life to Erfurt and serves as a poignant conclusion tying medieval history to modern preservation.

Kleine Synagoge (Small Synagogue)

Pic by Z thomas on Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0)

Where the tour takes place

Starting point and rough tour area – the exact route unfolds in the app.

Good to know

  • Ideal for History buffs, cultural explorers, architecture enthusiasts, and anyone moved by powerful human stories and hidden urban secrets.
  • Best time Daytime, preferably late morning or early afternoon, when the light catches the medieval stonework and the streets are lively but not overcrowded.
  • What to bring Comfortable walking shoes are essential for the cobblestone streets of the medieval quarter.
  • Pacing yourself Take your time at the Old Synagogue and the Mikveh; the details require a slow, observant eye.
  • Emotional readiness This tour deals with heavy historical themes, including the 1349 pogrom. Prepare for a moving experience.
  • Museum access Check the opening hours for the Old Synagogue museum if you wish to see the Erfurt Treasure inside.
  • Audio environment Use noise-canceling headphones to fully immerse yourself in the narrative while navigating the city.
  • Your voucher You can redeem your voucher for two years from purchase. Once redeemed, you have 14 days of access and can enjoy the tour as often as you like during that time.

Your guide

Max Krämer
Audio sample
0:000:00

Max Krämer

  • History & Memory
  • Northern Germany

Historian with a passion for urban places of remembrance. Has worked in archives and museums for years; shows the traces of revolutions, monuments, and colonial pasts in today's streets.

Frequently asked questions

How do I get to the tour after buying?

You see your voucher code right after payment – and you also receive it at the email address you entered at checkout. Redeem that code in the Red Thread app; that's where the tour starts.

When does my access start?

Only when you redeem the code in the app, not at purchase. From redemption you have 14 days of access to the tour.

Do I need the Red Thread app?

Yes. The free Red Thread app turns your tour into a vivid experience: with audio, a map, and thoughtful prompts, it guides you from place to place in an engaging and entertaining way. It's available free for iOS and Android.

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