Blaues Haus

The house was built at the end of the 17th century in the newly established Jewish quarter and housed the Christian-run “St. Peter” inn for over 140 years. In 1829, the Jewish community acquired the building to establish a denominational school. Later, it served as a community center and residence for cantor families.

After the destruction of the synagogue in November 1938, the Jewish community set up a secret prayer room here. This served the persecuted remnant of the community until October 1940 for the celebration of high holidays. With the deportation of the Jews of southwestern Germany to the Gurs internment camp (southern France) on October 22, 1940, Jewish life in Breisach was wiped out after 300 years.

In 1999, the building was saved from demolition and restored by the “Friends of the Former Jewish Community Center in Breisach” association. To this day, the association maintains contact with Holocaust survivors and their families worldwide.

The permanent exhibitions “Jewish Life in Breisach 1931” and “After the Shoah” in the former apartment of the cantor family Michael Eisemann tell the story of the family's life and coexistence in the community. Audio stations provide additional information. The garden features the exhibition “Gurs 1940: The Deportation and Murder of Southwest German Jews,” developed by the House of the Wannsee Conference and the Blue House.

Opening hours

Wednesday and Sunday (except public holidays) 2–5 p.m. and by appointment

Offers

•    Guided tours by appointment

•    Library and online catalog: https://blaueshausbreisach.de/;

Nearby attractions

•    Former Judengasse and Jewish quarter

•    Synagogue Square

•    Old Jewish Cemetery and New Jewish Cemetery