11:00
1.5 hours
In front of Speyer Cathedral (main entrance)
90-minute tour through the old town of Speyer
Cancellation & rebooking free of charge up to 24 hours before the booked start time
• Explore the magnificent UNESCO World Heritage Speyer Cathedral, one of the largest and most significant Romanesque churches in Europe
• Discover the medieval charm of Speyer's historic old town with its picturesque streets and traditional German architecture
• Visit the ancient Jewish courtyard and learn about the SchUM cities' rich Jewish heritage dating back to the Middle Ages
• Walk through the historic Maximilianstrasse, the main thoroughfare lined with baroque buildings and charming cafes
• Experience the unique blend of Roman, medieval, and modern history in one of Germany's oldest imperial cities
The Speyer city tour - cathedral, old town & Jewish heritage offers an extraordinary journey through over 2,000 years of history in one of Germany's most significant imperial cities. At the heart of this experience stands the magnificent Speyer Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage site that has dominated the city's skyline since the 11th century. This remarkable Romanesque masterpiece serves as the burial place of eight German emperors and kings, making it a crucial site in European history. The Speyer city tour takes visitors through the cathedral's impressive interior, where massive sandstone pillars support the largest Romanesque church in the world. The crypt houses the tombs of medieval rulers, while the imperial hall showcases the cathedral's role in shaping the Holy Roman Empire. Beyond its architectural grandeur, the cathedral represents the spiritual and political power that once emanated from this Rhine city.
The cathedral, old town & Jewish heritage tour continues through Speyer's beautifully preserved medieval quarter, where narrow cobblestone streets reveal centuries of urban development. The historic Maximilianstrasse, Germany's most magnificent baroque street, stretches from the cathedral to the medieval city gate, lined with elegant townhouses that tell stories of prosperous merchants and craftsmen. This Speyer old town tour includes visits to the Old Gate (Altpörtel), one of Germany's tallest city gates, offering panoramic views of the surrounding Rhine plain. The Jewish heritage component adds profound historical depth to the experience, as Speyer was home to one of Europe's most important medieval Jewish communities. The preserved Jewish courtyard, with its ritual bath (mikveh) dating from 1128, represents the oldest surviving Jewish ritual bath in Central Europe. Together with Worms and Mainz, Speyer formed the SchUM cities, centers of Jewish scholarship that influenced Jewish culture throughout Europe.
A comprehensive Speyer city tour - cathedral, old town & Jewish heritage provides visitors with an unparalleled understanding of how different cultures and religions shaped this Rhine city throughout the millennia. The tour reveals how Roman foundations evolved into a medieval powerhouse, where emperors held court and religious communities flourished side by side. Modern Speyer maintains this historical continuity, with carefully restored buildings housing museums, shops, and restaurants that keep the old town vibrant and accessible. The Jewish heritage tour in Speyer particularly highlights the city's commitment to preserving and presenting its multicultural past, with informative displays explaining the significance of the SchUM sites, now recognized as UNESCO World Heritage. Walking through these historic spaces, visitors gain insights into medieval life, religious coexistence, and the architectural innovations that made Speyer a model for urban development across Europe. This Speyer cathedral and old town tour ultimately demonstrates how a single city can embody the grand sweep of European history while maintaining its unique local character and charm.