Judenplatz, Square in Innere Stadt, Vienna, Austria

Judenplatz is a square in Vienna's Innere Stadt, near Am Hof and Wipplingerstrasse. It features a Holocaust memorial by Rachel Whiteread, a statue of Gotthold Ephraim Lessing, and the Misrachi-Haus museum, which provides access to the underground remains of a medieval synagogue.

Jewish settlement in the area began around 1150, and by 1400 it was a thriving community with a synagogue and school. In 1421, the Vienna Gesera led to the destruction of the community, and the square later became known as Judenplatz.

The name Judenplatz recalls the Jewish community that lived here in the Middle Ages. Today, the square is a place of remembrance, with the Holocaust memorial and the Lessing statue drawing visitors who reflect on the past.

The square is easily reached on foot from nearby streets and public squares. The museum and underground remains are best visited during daytime hours, and the area is accessible for wheelchairs and strollers.

The Holocaust memorial is a concrete cube with walls that look like books turned inside out, and its entrance is sealed. The names of 41 places where Austrian Jews died are inscribed on its base.