Auschwitz-Birkenau
Poland · Lesser Poland · 235 m
Description
Auschwitz-Birkenau near the town of Oświęcim is one of the most important Holocaust memorial sites and a central place of remembrance of Nazi crimes. The former German concentration and extermination camp complex consisted primarily of Auschwitz I and Auschwitz II-Birkenau. Between 1940 and 1945, more than one million people were murdered there, the overwhelming majority of them Jews. Auschwitz I is known for its gate bearing the inscription “Arbeit macht frei” and its preserved prisoner barracks. Birkenau is notable for its vast camp landscape, railway ramp, and the ruins of the gas chambers and crematoria. The site has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979.
Length of stay
Recommended length of stay: 1 day
Travel season
Best time to visit: May – June or September
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Highlights
- Auschwitz I & the “Arbeit macht frei” gate
- Birkenau (Auschwitz II) & the selection ramp
- Block 11 & the Death Wall
- International Memorial at Birkenau
- Permanent exhibitions in former barracks
- Birkenau wooden barracks & brick barracks
- Crematoria and gas chamber ruins at Birkenau
- Judenrampe (Jewish ramp)
- Auschwitz I camp remains & prisoner blocks
- Memorial and museum archives
- Auschwitz-Birkenau guided memorial tour
Getting there
- Train stations:
- Oświęcim