The 1519 expulsion of the Jewish community followed the death of Emperor Maximilian I and led to the immediate destruction of the synagogue.
Archaeological excavations in the 1990s uncovered a Roman legionary camp wall, remnants of the Jewish quarter, and medieval cisterns beneath the square.
The Neupfarrkirche, established in 1519, was the first Protestant church in the city and was designed in a late Gothic style.
The artistic installation by Dani Karavan uses concrete outlines to represent the exact dimensions of the medieval synagogue and its surrounding structures.
The square was historically known as 'In der Judengasse' before the 1519 pogrom.
Neupfarrplatz serves as a central urban square in Regensburg, situated directly over the remnants of the city's former Jewish quarter, which was destroyed in 1519. The site is anchored by the Neupfarrkirche, a Protestant church built on the site of a demolished synagogue. Beneath the square, the 'document Neupfarrplatz' museum provides archaeological access to Roman, medieval Jewish, and modern subterranean structures. The square features a permanent artistic installation by Dani Karavan titled 'Neupfarrplatz', which traces the footprint of the old synagogue in the pavement. It functioned as a bustling market center historically and remains a primary pedestrian thoroughfare today. The area bridges the transition between the city's medieval old town and its commercial zones.
The perspective from the square looking toward the Neupfarrkirche with the floor-level installation in the foreground.
Visit the 'document Neupfarrplatz' underground museum to understand the layers of history beneath the surface.
Look for the glass-covered excavation pits on the square to view the Roman and medieval foundations without entering the museum.
Combine your visit with a walk to the nearby Old Town Hall.
Do not mistake the modern surrounding shopping area for the historical site; ensure you visit the specific underground document center.
The document Neupfarrplatz museum is typically closed on Mondays.
