Innenstadt I in Frankfurt am Main, Hesse, Germany — Central Europe

Jewish Ghetto Gate

Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, November 22, 2016

1. Jewish Ghetto Gate Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

Hier war das nördliche Tor zur Judengasse, in der Frankfurts Juden von 1462 bis zur Aufhebung des Ghettozwangs 1811 in großer Enge leben mußten.

Here was located the northern gate to "Jew's Lane", in which Frankfurt's Jews were required to live in tight quarters from 1462 until the lifting of "Compulsory Ghetto-ization" in 1811.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Churches & Religion • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1462.

Location. 50° 6.847′ N, 8° 41.184′ E. Marker is in Innenstadt I, Hessen (Hesse), in Frankfurt am Main. Marker is at the intersection of An der Staufenmauer / Zeil and Fahrgasse, on the right when traveling west on An der Staufenmauer / Zeil. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: Zeil 57, Innenstadt I HE 60313, Germany. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Staufermauer (within shouting distance of this marker); Johann Wolfgang Textor (about 150 meters away, measured in a direct line); Tugendbrunnen / The Virtue Fountain (about 180 meters away); Dominikanerkloster / Dominican Monastery

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(approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Börneplatz Synagogue (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Frankfurter Engel / Angel of Frankfurt (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Friedrich Stoltze Geburtshaus / Birthplace (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Alter Jüdische Friedhof / Old Jewish Cemetery (approx. 0.3 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Innenstadt I.

More about this marker. The marker hangs off of the street sign at the intersection of Zeil and Fahrgasse, in front of the Deutsche Bank.

Also see . . .
1. Frankfurter Judengasse (Wikipedia). "The Frankfurter Judengasse ("Jews' Lane" in German) was the Jewish ghetto of Frankfurt and one of the earliest ghettos in Germany. It existed from 1462 until 1811 and was home to Germany's largest Jewish community in early modern times....At the end of the 19th century, most of the buildings in the Judengasse were demolished. The area suffered major destruction during World War II and reconstruction left no visible signs of the ghetto in today's townscape of Frankfurt....The ghetto was located outside the city walls east of the medieval

Jewish Ghetto Gate Marker - wide view image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, November 22, 2016

2. Jewish Ghetto Gate Marker - wide view

city wall (Staufenmauer).... The street was about 330 meters long, three to four meters wide, and had three town gates. The gates were locked at night as well as on Sundays and Christian holidays. Due to the narrow street and the limited access, the Judengasse was destroyed three times by fire in the 18th century alone, in 1711, 1721 and 1796....Initially, some 15 families with about 110 members lived in Frankfurt's Judengasse when they were forcibly removed from the city and relocated to the ghetto by decree of Frederick III in 1462. By the 16th century, the number of inhabitants rose to over 3,000, living in 195 houses. The ghetto had one of the highest population densities in Europe. Contemporary documents described it as narrow, oppressive and dirty." (Submitted on June 19, 2019.)

2. Jewish Sites in Frankfurt am Main (Jewish Frankfurt). "Jews have lived in Frankfurt continuously for nearly 900 years, longer than in any other German city...." (Submitted on June 19, 2019.)

Credits. This page was last revised on January 28, 2022. It was originally submitted on June 19, 2019, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 189 times since then and 19 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 19, 2019, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.