Five Years as a UNESCO World Heritage Site: The SchUM Sites
July 27, 2026, marks the fifth anniversary of the designation of the SchUM sites in Speyer, Worms, and Mainz as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Mainz, the state capital, offers guided tours of the Old Jewish Cemetery World Heritage Site.
The guided tours will take place in cooperation with the local board of the German Foundation for Monument Protection (DSD) at the Old Jewish Cemetery on Sunday, July 26, at 1:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. The tour begins at the main gate of the Old Jewish Cemetery at Mombacher Straße 63.
Significance of the SchUM Sites
With the inclusion of the SchUM sites in Speyer, Worms, and Mainz on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2021, an extraordinary chapter in German and European history was officially recognized: 1,000 years of Jewish heritage along the Rhine, shaped by scholarship, religious life, cultural exchange, and a social impact that extended far beyond the region. The mikvaot, synagogues, Talmud schools, and cemeteries from the Middle Ages that have been preserved to this day in the three SchUM cities are therefore important architectural testaments.
Highlights of the guided tours in Mainz
In Mainz, the idyllic “Judensand” Jewish cemetery, over a thousand years old, is considered the oldest and largest Jewish cemetery in Europe. The burial ground reflects the centuries-old and eventful history of the Jewish community in Magenza (Hebrew for Mainz). During a walking tour, the significance of this site—known in Hebrew as “Beit Olam” (House of Eternity)—is explained. The tour introduces gravestone symbols as well as burial and mourning rituals. It also tells the stories of prominent figures from the Middle Ages who were buried here and who have continued to shape Judaism worldwide to this day. At the same time, the tour explains what makes the SchUM sites unique as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Practical Information About the Tours
Participation in the guided tour is free of charge. Registration is not required. Donations to the German Foundation for Monument Protection are appreciated. Men must wear head coverings when visiting the cemetery. The official celebration of the 5th anniversary of SchUM-Städte e.V. will take place on July 26 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Judenhof in Speyer.
Further information: schumstaedte.de (opens in a new tab)
We ask that you publicize this event in your media outlets.
