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Historic site · Erfurt, Turíngia
Mittelalterliche Mikwe
13th-century Jewish ritual bath, beside the Gera River, rediscovered in 2007. It is part of the World Heritage of Erfurt’s medieval Jewish heritage and is visited with a guide.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Mittelalterliche Mikwe
The Mikwe is the ritual bath of Erfurt’s former Jewish community, built beside the Gera River near the Krämerbrücke. A mikwe requires running water, and the proximity of the river provided that. A first bath existed in the 12th century; the current one dates from the 13th century, first mentioned in writing in 1248, and was used until the expulsion of the Jews from the town in 1453.
Afterwards the basin was filled in and the space became a cellar. The house that covered the Mikwe was demolished during World War II, and the site lay forgotten under a green area until it was rediscovered in excavations in 2007. The water system still works, but the level is lower than in the Middle Ages.
Together with the Alte Synagoge and the Steinhaus, the Mikwe forms the Medieval Jewish Heritage of Erfurt ensemble, inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2023. Medieval tax records show that Jews and Christians lived door to door there.
Visits are conducted only with a guide, in small groups. The city also offers guided walks through the old Jewish quarter, which depart from the Benediktsplatz.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
The guided visit to the Mikwe lasts about 45 minutes. The walk through the Jewish quarter is about an hour and a half.
Best time
Public visits are usually on Thursday and Friday afternoons and on Saturdays and Sundays late morning. Check the times before you go.
How to get there
The meeting point is on Kreuzgasse, near the Mikwe, a few steps from the Krämerbrücke. It’s about a 5-minute walk from the Fischmarkt.
Tip
Combine it with the guided walk of the Jewish quarter, which usually departs from the Benediktsplatz in front of the tourist information centre on weekends. Public visits are free; the organisation asks for donations.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Mittelalterliche Mikwe
Can you visit the Mikwe without a guide?
No. Entry is only possible on guided tours at fixed days and times. Check the schedule before you go.
What is a mikwe?
It is the Jewish ritual bath, supplied by flowing water, used for religious purification. It was one of the essential buildings of a Jewish community, alongside the synagogue and the cemetery.
Why is the Mikwe a World Heritage Site?
It forms part, together with the Alte Synagoge and the Steinhaus, of the Medieval Jewish Heritage of Erfurt, recognized by UNESCO in 2023 as a rare testimony to Jewish life in the Middle Ages.
Is the visit in German?
Public tours are usually in German. Ask the town hall about tours in other languages or pre-arranged group visits.