The nearby Neupfarrplatz provides a unique view of ancient and medieval Regensburg. Recent construction work uncovered the foundations of the former Jewish settlement. Due to their contribution to the Regensburg’s mercantile growth, the Jews and local citizens lived peaceably together within the city walls.

In 1519, however, following years of economic decline, the town council banished the Jews and razed their houses and the synagogue. Archaeologists found cellars, walls, wells, steps and roads and gained a better insight into the Jewish quarter. And, when they probed deeper, they found that the ghetto had in fact been built over Roman ruins.

Today, visitors can climb down two flights of stairs adjacent to the Neupfarrkirche and see the simple excavation from vantagepoints along a metal walkway. Beyond the walkway and recessed lighting, there’s nothing artificial about the site: no explanatory signs and no protective glass. It feels far less like a museum than a private look into two layers of the past. (As the site is just opening to the public, contact the City Tourist office for times and fees.)