Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial

Overview

Auschwitz-Birkenau was the largest extermination camp established by Nazi Germany during the Second World War, where more than 1.1 million people, about 90 percent of them Jews, were murdered. It is now open as a museum and memorial, preserving the barracks, gas chambers and crematoria along with vast quantities of belongings such as shoes, spectacles and luggage. It is an essential place for understanding and reflecting on history, drawing more than two million visitors each year.

History

The camp was established by Nazi Germany in 1940 in the southern Polish town of Oświęcim, initially to hold Polish political prisoners before being expanded into a centre of genocide with the Birkenau extermination camp. Systematic mass murder of Jews began in 1942 and continued until Soviet forces liberated the site on 27 January 1945, a date later established as International Holocaust Remembrance Day. It was inscribed as a World Heritage Site in 1979.

Highlights

• •Auschwitz I, preserving many original buildings and exhibitions
• •Birkenau, showing the true scale of the camp
• •The belongings on display, deeply moving to every visitor
• •The solemn international commemorations held each 27 January

Practical tips

• •Prepare yourself emotionally; the content is extremely heavy
• •A licensed guide or audio guide is strongly recommended
• •Maintain a solemn manner; loud conversation and joking in photographs are not appropriate
• •The car park is about a kilometre from the entrance, and a shuttle is available

Practical information

Best time

April to October

Tickets

Free, with advance reservation required; audio guide about PLN 30

Opening hours

8:00 to 19:00, varying by season and closing after sunset

Local food

Polish dumplings and sour rye soup

Getting around

About 1.5 hours by bus from Kraków; visits require a timed reservation

Visa

Poland is in the Schengen area and requires a short-stay Schengen visa. Book an appointment early with complete travel documents.

…