Speyer

Speyer is a city in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, located on the Rhine in the southwestern part of the state. It lies within the Rhine-Neckar metropolitan region and serves as a historical and cultural center of the Palatinate. The city has a long urban history dating back to Roman times and today includes a mix of well-preserved historic architecture and modern museums.

Historically, Speyer grew from a Roman settlement known as Nemetum and later developed as a commercial and religious center in the Middle Ages. It is best known for the Speyer Cathedral (Kaiserdom zu Speyer), a large Romanesque church begun in the 11th century and serving as a traditional burial site for German kings and emperors. The cathedral is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and remains one of the most important monuments of its era. The Old Town features medieval and early modern buildings, the Altpörtel gate tower, and other historic sites, reflecting Speyer’s long urban continuity. The city also hosts the Pfälzisches Museum der Stadt Speyer and the Jewish Museum Speyer, which document local and regional history and culture.

Key attractions in addition to the cathedral include the Jewish Museum Speyer and the Technik Museum Speyer, a large technology museum with extensive collections related to aviation, ships, rail, and space-related exhibits. The Old Town Hall and the historic market area round out the city’s architectural significance.

Speyer’s economy combines services, tourism, and regional industry. It is connected by rail and road to surrounding cities and benefits from its proximity to the Rhine and to major urban centers in the region.