UNESCO World Heritage Day Speyer — Cathedral and Jewish Courtyard

Double UNESCO World Heritage Speyer

Speyer is the only German city with two UNESCO World Heritage sites in close proximity: the Imperial Cathedral (World Heritage since 1981, one of the earliest German entries) and the Jewish Courtyard as part of the SchUM sites (World Heritage since 2021). Both are located just a few hundred meters apart in the heart of the old town. The UNESCO World Heritage Day offers an annual opportunity to experience both sites within a thematic framework.

Motto 2026: Together for Peace and Understanding

The 2026 motto — “Together for Peace and Understanding” — will be implemented simultaneously in Speyer, Worms, and Mainz, the three SchUM cities. It emphasizes the unifying function of the World Heritage sites: the Cathedral as a site of Christian spirituality, the Jewish Courtyard as a site of Jewish spirituality and scholarship — both stand for a dialogue of religions and cultures.

Special Tours of the Cathedral with Roof Truss Access

The special tours of the Imperial Cathedral with access to the normally closed roof truss are a particular attraction. The tours take place at 11:30 AM and 2 PM — the roof truss offers a view of the impressive construction of the largest surviving Romanesque building in the world. A child-friendly Cathedral tour at 2 PM is aimed at families with children aged 6 to 13 (10 euros per adult, 6 euros per child).

Family Tour of the Jewish Courtyard

A family tour of the Jewish Courtyard takes place at 3 PM — for ages 5+, 7.50 euros per person. The tour introduces children to the history of medieval Jewish Speyer and shows remains of the synagogue and the mikveh. A combined tour “Double World Heritage Speyer” links both sites in a single tour.

Literary and Musical Evening Program

The event concludes with a literary and musical evening program in the Jewish Courtyard with Hans-Jürgen Herschel and Lömsch Lehmann. It is also part of the Chai Festival 2026 (which runs from June 4 to 7) and connects the World Heritage Day with Speyer's annual Jewish cultural festival.