The Rothschild-Palais was originally built between 1820 and 1821 for the merchant Carl Mayer von Rothschild.
The museum complex integrates a 2020 extension designed by the architectural firm Staab Architekten.
The Museum Judengasse site contains the foundations of original houses from the former Frankfurt ghetto, which dates back to 1462.
The museum holds a significant collection of silver and ceremonial objects used in both synagogue and domestic contexts.
Bertha Pappenheim, the square's namesake, was a pioneering Jewish social worker and the founder of the Jüdischer Frauenbund.
The exhibition utilizes a 'biographical' approach, telling history through the personal stories of Frankfurt residents rather than just abstract timelines.
The Jewish Museum Frankfurt is situated within the Rothschild-Palais, an 1800s historical estate, and the adjacent modern exhibition building. The museum examines the history and culture of Frankfurt's Jewish community from the Enlightenment to the present day. It operates across two primary sites: the Rothschild-Palais on the Main riverbank and the Museum Judengasse, which focuses on early modern Jewish history. The Rothschild-Palais houses the permanent exhibition 'We are here', featuring thousands of objects, photos, and personal items. Visitors explore the history of Jewish life through themes of integration, discrimination, and the Holocaust. The museum features a specialized library and a research archive accessible to the public. Architecture blends the restored neoclassical palace with contemporary minimalist design. Interactive media stations provide depth to the historical narrative throughout the exhibition floors.
The contrast between the restored 19th-century facade of the Rothschild-Palais and the modern architecture of the extension.
Visit both the main site at Bertha-Pappenheim-Platz and the Museum Judengasse for a complete historical narrative.
Use the museum's digital archive stations to research specific family histories or cultural artifacts.
Allow time to visit the museum garden situated between the historical palace and the modern building.
Do not attempt to see both sites (Rothschild-Palais and Museum Judengasse) in less than three hours, as they are separate locations.
Closed on Mondays.
