This permanent exhibition at the Museum Judenplatz explores the history of Vienna's first Jewish community from the 13th century. It highlights the development of the Jewish quarter, the significant Synagogue, and the intellectual contributions of the community before its tragic expulsion in 1420/21. The exhibition utilizes archaeological findings, architectural research, and modern technology to make this largely forgotten period of Viennese history tangible.
Located on Judenplatz, a site layered with centuries of Jewish history, the permanent exhibition 'Unser Mittelalter! Die erste jüdische Gemeinde in Wien' delves into Vienna's earliest Jewish community. Flourishing from the 13th century, this quarter boasted a magnificent Synagogue and became a hub for Jewish scholarship, attracting prominent rabbis. However, this vibrant era met a brutal end in 1420/21 with the expulsion and murder of its inhabitants by order of Duke Albrecht V., leading to a long period of historical neglect.
In recent decades, especially with the establishment of the memorial for Austrian Jewish victims of the Shoah, the historical significance of the square and its past has been re-examined. The remarkable discovery of the Synagogue beneath the square has particularly refocused attention on this often-overlooked medieval epoch. Through contemporary archaeological and architectural research, complemented by the latest technologies, the exhibition reconstructs both the topography of the medieval Jewish quarter and the Synagogue destroyed in 1421. Artistic contributions, interactive elements, and child-friendly stations offer diverse perspectives on the life and history of Vienna's foundational Jewish community.