As if there were not already enough mysterious and valuable paintings in the venerable Wallraf-Richartz Museum, the large window on the north façade opens a view of the "Archaeological Quarter," which still holds plenty of secrets. Beneath the surface of the former town hall square, which covers the area between the Wallraf-Richartz and the town hall, extensive evidence of the Roman, Jewish, and Christian history of the city from antiquity to modern times can be found. Making this visible in a museum of Jewish history is perhaps the most interesting project of its kind currently in Europe.
In 2021, when the anniversary "1700 years of Jewish life in Germany" was celebrated, there were initial events in the underground excavation area. In 2025, the museum will be inaugurated under the name MiQua as the LVR Jewish Museum in the Archaeological Quarter of Cologne. 6000 square meters of excavation area will be experienced along a 650-meter-long exhibition route.
It has long been known that something significant lies beneath the surface at the Historical Town Hall. As early as 1953, during the reconstruction of the town hall, initial extensive excavations took place. They uncovered parts of the Praetorium, the governor's palace as the center of Roman rule on the Rhine. The mikveh, a walkable shaft about 15 meters deep leading to the flowing groundwater, where Jews performed ritual washings, was also discovered early on. For several years, a glass cover provided Cologne residents with a first window into the past, and parts of the Praetorium were also accessible. However, it became clear only over the subsequent decades and particularly through recent excavations under the entire square how extensive and enlightening the buried finds actually are.
The results of the archaeological work provide insights into Cologne's Roman history from the 1st to the 4th century, from the founding of the city by Agrippina to the last Roman governor in late antiquity, who ultimately ceded power to the Franks. The finds demonstrate the Christian-Jewish coexistence in Cologne from the 11th century until the expulsion of the Jews in 1424. Remains of the synagogue, the dance house, a hospital, and residential houses of the Jewish population date from this period. Here, slate tablets with Jewish names, writing exercises, and Bible quotes were found – according to experts, a uniquely enlightening find worldwide. The period after the re-establishment of Jewish life from the end of the 18th century can also be read on the stones and marks a section up to the 1940s. For the medieval and early modern urban history from the 7th to the 20th century, the excavation of the Christian goldsmith's quarter stands out. The most valuable find in this section is a presumably Byzantine gold earring of imperial quality from the 10th century. It was found in a latrine in 2011.
After years of detailed discussions within Cologne about the orientation, size, and design of a museum at the location, the architectural design of a hall building was approved in 2008, which will now be completed by 2024. Above ground, it will contain large exhibition areas, but it will also offer plenty of space and perspective downwards into the excavated streets and houses. The story of the stones is told through people whose life stories can be evidenced by finds. The MiQua is intended to function for visitors like an open history book with the exposed testimonies. Whether all the visions of the creators will be fulfilled remains to be seen. After all, a special find could still be helpful before the opening: In 1953, a statue of the Roman goddess of fortune, Fortuna, was also discovered, and a place for her in the exhibition is certain.
Our excursion tips: Want to experience modern Jewish life in Cologne up close? That can also be done in the metropolis on the Rhine. For those who embark on this exciting cultural journey, a visit to the Roonstraße synagogue is part of the must-see program. It is the center of the Cologne synagogue community and can be visited during a guided tour. Community members provide information during a tour about the history and significance of the house, which today serves as both a meeting place and a house of worship.
Alternatively, for travelers who want to engage even more with archaeological finds, a visit to the https://www.roemergrab.de/ in Cologne-Weiden is recommended. The underground burial chamber is one of the best-preserved and most impressive Roman burial sites north of the Alps. Researchers discovered it in 1843 during excavation work.
