Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial

Overview

Auschwitz-Birkenau is the largest Nazi concentration and extermination camp, where 1.1 million people—90% of them Jewish—were murdered. The preserved camps 60 km from Kraków are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a mandatory act of remembrance.

Highlights

• Auschwitz I: The original camp with the 'Arbeit macht frei' gate, prisoner barracks, and the gas chamber.
• Birkenau (Auschwitz II): The vast extermination camp with the railway selection ramp, ruins of gas chambers, and the Monument to the Victims.
• National exhibitions: Country-specific exhibitions in the barracks.

History

Established in 1940 for Polish political prisoners, the camp was expanded into a systematic extermination facility. It was liberated by the Soviet Army on 27 January 1945.

Visitor Tips

• Book guided tour: Free timed-entry reservations required; book months ahead at visit.auschwitz.org.
• Allow a full day: Including transport from Kraków (buses run regularly).
• Duration: 4–6 hours.