A German city could soon win the highly-coveted Unesco world heritage status for its ancient synagogue.

The Old Synagogue in Erfurt, eastern Germany, dates back to the 11th century.

The decision to approve it as a Unesco world heritage site will be taken in the unlikely setting of Saudi Arabia next month, when the organisation holds its next meeting.

Erfurt, state capital of Thuringia, is even sending a delegation to the Saudi capital, Riyadh, in the hope of swaying the Unesco committee to vote in its favour. 

Mayor Andreas Bausewein, 50, said it would mark a momentous achievement for the city. “The world heritage site would be a unique opportunity for Erfurt to move up into the top league of tourist destinations,” he said. “Our Jewish-medieval ensemble is unique, it deserves worldwide attention.”

The Erfurt synagogue has not been used as a place of worship for centuries.

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Exterior of the Old synagogue in Erfurt, Germany (Photo: Alamy)

Erfurt has a rich Jewish legacy going back some 900 years. In the 11th century, Jews were based in a designated quarter where they engaged in finance, trade and scholarship, notably with the renowned Erfurt yeshivah.

The outbreak of the Black Death in the mid-14th century led to scapegoating and blaming of Jewish communities throughout Europe. In 1349, the Jews of Erfurt were massacred, and their property was confiscated.

The synagogue was damaged and taken over by the city which sold it to a merchant. It was converted into a warehouse, and used for storage for 500 years.

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The synagogue dates back to the 11th century (Photo: Alamy)

Since the 19th century, the building has at various times been used as a ballroom, a restaurant and even two bowling alleys.

In 1998, the city bought the building, and restored it. It is now open to visitors. One of the most notable features of the Old Synagogue is the mikveh.

There is also a mikveh in the Jewish Stone House, one of the oldest remaining residential buildings in Erfurt. During restoration work in the late 20th century, archaeologists uncovered traces of a medieval kitchen, a well, and other remnants that provided insights into the daily life of the Jewish community in Erfurt during that era.

Today, the Jewish Stone House serves as a museum including artefacts, historical documents and interactive displays.

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Erfurt has a rich Jewish legacy going back some 900 years (Photo: Alamy)

Erfurt's proposal for Unesco recognition comes on the heels of successful nominations of other German sites, such as Speyer, Worms and Mainz, also renowned for their medieval Jewish sites.

The Unesco committee is set to convene from September 10-25 to deliberate on Erfurt's inclusion, following more than a decade of preparation by the Thuringian community.

The citizens of Erfurt will be able to follow the live announcement of the committee's decision via a public broadcast in the City Hall.

The oldest active synagogue in Europe is the Old-New Synagogue in Prague, built in the 13th century.