I visited this tentative WHS in August 2020 as a convenient stopover during my road trips to Poland. Perhaps due to the recent unexpected positive experience I had while visiting the synagogue in Zamosc, combined with the lack of hospitality shown by the old synagogue reception staff in Erfurt, I really did not enjoy my visit and sincerely hope this tentative WHS never makes it on the list as in my opinion it lacks any tangible OUV.

That said, at least I got some value out of the 8 euro entrance fee from the Erfurt treasure permanently displayed inside since 2009. The treasure was discovered in 1998 buried underneath the wall of a cellar entrance most likely during the pogrom of 1349. This is probably the main reason why the site is heavily guarded and photography inside is strictly not allowed. Bags (even very small ones) have to be left in free lockers at the reception. The old synagogue is closed on Mondays and entrance is free every first Tuesday of the month. The highlight of the Erfurt treasure for me was the intricate early fourteenth century Ashkenazi wedding ring. The ring features a beautifully crafted ornate miniature version of a gothic tower and six engraved Hebrew letters that spell out "mazal tov", meaning good fate or good luck, on the tower's roof. I have never seen anything like it.

The Jewish community of Erfurt first appears in historical records of the late 11th century with the Old Synagogue dating from around that time. Up until the 14th century, this Jewish place of worship underwent several modifications and adaptations to cater for the needs of the growing religious community. What can be seen today after entering the reception or by peeking through the gate of the neighboring courtyard used as a parking lot, is a tall gabled building with a rose window on one side (which is the only exterior indication that this was once used as a place of worship.

Over centuries Jews and Christians lived side by side in the centre of Erfurt. However, this can to a sudden end in 1349 when the plague broke out and the Christian population held the Jews responsible for this epidemic. Jews were persecuted and several rioters murdered a large number of Jews living in the Jewish quarters and burnt down the roof of the Old Synagogue of Erfurt. The synagogue was converted into a storehouse and during Nazi rule only the Great Synagogue was burnt down. Interestingly, a fragment of the old Torah ark served as a lintel. The north facade (the one you see from the reception) shows numerous signs of the building's varying uses. After a careful inspection, you'll be able to notice part of an air grille dating from the late 19th century when the ground floor housed the kitchen of a restaurant!

After visiting the old synagogue, I peeked through a glass panel in the roof of the concrete protective building to try to actually see the mikveh but didn't see much of the medieval remains. If you want a closer look, you must join one of the guided tours “on the trail of Jewish history” (prebooking) or visit on Thursdays at 4pm or Saturdays at 2pm in April-October or on Thursdays at 3pm in November-March. Next, I made an effort to view the third component of this tentative WHS after enjoying Erfurt's historic centre (the latter seemed much more worthwhile). On Benediktsplatz 1 in the historic city centre, a medieval stone building is located known as Jewish Stone House. Numerous essential structures from its time of construction (around 1250) have been preserved but I can't see how this can contribute anything to the WH list.