Auschwitz Birkenau Memorial Tour from Krakow
- Live Guide
- Instant Confirmation
- Day Trip
- E-Ticket
- 7 hr
Visit the World War II Auschwitz-Birkenau complex and learn about the Nazi Holocaust on this 7-hour trip from Krakow. You will be picked up from the city centre and taken by coach to the UNESCO World Heritage Site in Oświęcim. Explore the two camps with either a professional guide who will carefully, and sensitively explain everything that you can see, or with a guidebook in your language, exploring at your own pace. You will see the barracks and poignant museum exhibits at Auschwitz I, as well as the gas chambers, watchtowers and memorials in Auschwitz II-Birkenau. You will learn about the history of the Holocaust and the liberation of Auschwitz in 1945, as well as hear individual stories of some of the camp's prisoners. It is unique and eye opening experience, which everyone, once in there lifetime should experience. You will be shocked and terrified what humans can do to each other.
Itinerary Details
Operated by: Discover Cracow
Stop At: Panstwowe Muzeum Auschwitz-Birkenau
When you arrive at your destination, you will be met by your professional guide and enter the site at Auschwitz I, walking through the gate to the camp that bears the inscription Arbeit Macht Frei (Work Sets You Free). The Auschwitz-Birkenau complex was established in 1940 in place of old polish army barracks. Originally to hold Polish POW`s political prisoners, and operated until its liberation by advancing soviets in 1945. During its operation, more than 1.5 million Jewish, Polish, Italian and French prisoners were brought here ,of which 1.1m. was exterminated as part of largest genocide in human history. Leaving survivors terribly scared for live. The Auschwitz complex comprises of original buildings and you can see the original roads, fences, watchtowers and railway ramps, and death wall. Visit some of the barracks on the Auschwitz I complex, which now house a collection of original exhibitions and documents, as well as articles stolen from prisoners upon camp arrival.
Duration: 1 hour 45 minutes
Stop At: Brzezinka
The second part of the tour - Birkenau (Auschwitz II) - the largest camp from over 40 camps and sub-camps from Auschwitz complex. Originally planned as a camp for Soviet prisoners of war, it eventually became a concentration camp for prisoners of various nationalities and a center of the extermination of Jews. Its construction began in October 1941 by hands of slave labourers, in a place of displaced and mostly demolished village of Brzezinka and three kilometres from Auschwitz I. It was design to hold 125 000 prisoners at one time. Who was from the start destined to die from cold, hunger, diseases and of exhaustion. Prisoners was treated as redundant and easily replaceable work force. You will sea unimaginable living condition, prisoners have to adapt. You can walk to preserved camp barracks. You will see rail ramp, when infamous Dr. Mengele oversaw selection process of new arrivals, when split second decided of you life or death in gas chambers. Which were only 200m away.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
