Auschwitz-Birkenau, PolandAI generated

Auschwitz-Birkenau

Poland · Lesser Poland · 235 m

Short description of Auschwitz-Birkenau

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.

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Recommended length of stay

Minimum1 day
Optimal1 day
Maximum1 day

Travel seasons at a glance

Best time to visit: May – June or September

  • Jan
  • Feb
  • Mar
  • Apr
  • May
  • Jun
  • Jul
  • Aug
  • Sep
  • Oct
  • Nov
  • Dec

All highlights and sightsBeta

  1. Auschwitz I & the “Arbeit macht frei” gate
  2. Birkenau (Auschwitz II) & the selection ramp
  3. Block 11 & the Death Wall
  4. International Memorial at Birkenau
  5. Permanent exhibitions in former barracks
  6. Birkenau wooden barracks & brick barracks
  7. Crematoria and gas chamber ruins at Birkenau
  8. Judenrampe (Jewish ramp)
  9. Auschwitz I camp remains & prisoner blocks
  10. Memorial and museum archives
  11. Auschwitz-Birkenau guided memorial tour

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