Auschwitz When to Go

missmollie

missmollie

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Hi
We want to visit Auschwitz on our next trip, we are away from next week until end of October and will be staying mainly in France as we are joining up with friends. However, due to the time we have available this is our best opportunity to visit Auschwitz. We have a dog which would have to stay in the van when we visit, I am thinking October maybe the best time for leaving the dog in the van but, If the weather is not too hot at the beginning of September I would prefer to go then. Can any of you knowledgeable people give me an idea of the best time to go and where to stay?
 
I’ll ask my daughters (Polish) boyfriend for you. They visited in the summer and she said that if you go early you have to join a tour ... she would have preferred to wander round on her own and linger. But then her tour was Polish and her language skills are somewhat limited! :rolleyes:
 
hi we went in sept acouple of years back auschwitz parking oswiecim gps coordinates N50.028671 E19.201111

the address auschwitz parking stanislaw-leszezynskiej 30600 0swiecim........Ian.
 
Went to Auschwitz last year and spent the night on the car park at Birkenau, during the day there are a couple of good cafes with toilets and you can wander around Birkenau at your leisure,
In the morning we travelled to Auschwitz arriving at 7.30 am, arrive earlier if you can as the queues for tickets can be long once the coach parties start attending. The advertising makes it appear you have to pay to go around, YOU DO NOT you only have to pay for the guided tour which is ridiculously short, (It took me 2 hours to go round Auschwitz, the guide took 45 minutes) we received good advice to go and buy the official guide from the shop, which allows you to go at your own pace.
You do have to queue for your tickets, when we went staff came out offering people who did not want the guided tour, their tickets, this was to reduce the queuing time.

Enjoy hour trip, it is ............................. cant quite describe the experience, but glad I went.

If you are in France it is well worth visiting Oradour sur Glane
 
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Yeah, they say as late in year as you can so cooler. Go Mon- Fri. They do English tours although they’re pricy.
Enjoy, it’s on my list ... and go to Krakow. They also went to mountains to Zakopane in the Tatras and photos are beautiful.

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The most sobering place I have ever visited. We both got back to the motorhome and sat in silence for sometime reflecting where we had been and what we had seen. The pain and suffering is unimaginable. As time progresses I fear we loose sight of what happened to prevent it ever happening again (we have already failed on that front) We need to ensure the people who were killed and people who suffered there are never ever forgotten and the cruelty man can inflict on fellow man is also never forgotten.

A personal thing, but we could not have spent any time in the carpark after our visit, it did not feel right to be eating, drinking or sitting around. We went to visit and learn of the suffering first hand. To do anything else seemed disrespectful to us.
 
I thought paying for the tour was definatly worth it. Its very busy whenever you go. I would advise booking on a tour you get audio headphones and an English speaking tour guide . we paid about £20 on a bus trip from Krakow left at 1pm got back about 8 at night but also went to the Birkenau Memorial after Auschwitz .
 
I went when I was working nearby and was taken by one of my colleagues who spoke good English.

We started at Auchwitz 1, which is the former Polish barracks and has the famous gate, recently stolen and returned.

Followed by 2 or Birkenau, which is the bit that is seen in the Steven Spielburg film.

They are not far from each other.

I certainly would not have stayed or eaten at either, just me.

Definitely needs to be visited
 
It is possible to overnight at the Centre for Dialogue and Prayer......................it is about a mile away and does not feel so intrusive as the car parks http://cdim.pl/en,1033

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My Father visited Auschwitz in 1958 when he was serving with the Royal Tank Regiment and he distinctly recalled a place where no birds or wildlife were present either in or around the mass grave locations.

I last went in 1993 and I can't recall seeing one bird either - quite a chilling place.
 
webby1 said:
It is possible to overnight at the Centre for Dialogue and Prayer......................it is about a mile away and does not feel so intrusive as the car parks http://cdim.pl/en,1033
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I could not overnight anywhere near the place. We are all different, but we could not wait to get as far away as we could. The place was emotionally draining for us.
 
You can also visit Schindler’s factory in Kacrow
 
Like many others, totally drained emotionally and had to escape the area, no air, difficult to breathe, personally would not want to stay there, strange emotions, wished we hadn't gone, however, if we hadn't gone how we would we have known as no one telling you not to go will stop you going, you have to feel it for yourself
 
We visited Oradour Sur Glane couple of years ago and the memories haunt me.. truly awful..

We have considered visiting the death camps, but came to the conclusion that I don't need to visit to know what happened.. and it should never be forgotten.. but have mixed feelings about it becoming a tourist attraction, coach parties, guides, entrance charges etc.. that doesn't sit well with me but understand that if it is to be preserved for future generations it needs funding.


If you do go I suggest it's on the way back home.. not on the way out as it may spoil your trip..

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There are a few places in Europe that have similar emotional impact , three mentioned above , also Dachau . worth going but not something you do for enjoyment . We went to Wieliczka salt mine
afterwards near Krakow to try and get back to emotional normality , well worth seeing , if you have Polish friend get him to get tickets as they are cheaper for nationals !! Krackow castle is bit of non event from interior , as mostly empty rooms JMHO .
If over 3500kg you will need viatoll box for Poland .
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kraków#Climate
Campsite , easy access by PT into Krackow Camping Clepardia .
 
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TheBig1 said:
how can anyone enjoy a visit to the death camps? educational but deeply distressing
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I agree.

We live about 25km from Auschwitz but I have no desire to visit, nor does Basia want to visit again, because when she was a teacher she had to take pupils there multiple times.

Geoff
 
webby1 said:
It is possible to overnight at the Centre for Dialogue and Prayer......................it is about a mile away and does not feel so intrusive as the car parks http://cdim.pl/en,1033
Click to expand...
Certainly second this. Very good site with freindly staff and within walking distance to Auschwitz camp for most people
 
I'd never visit. You can't unsee the awful sights at places such as Auschwitz and I know I'd be distressed for a long time.

I know what went on there and in other places - it should never be forgotten but I couldn't bear to see it close up.
 
@missmollie if you are going to Auswich and have time go to Warsaw and visit Schlinders Factory it gives a brilliant overview of the nation's history during WW2

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We found Robbin Island quite distressing......the emotions stayed with us for days, so although I feel I ought to visit. I don’t know if I ever could. Utterly chilling. I remember my Mums friend talking about it when she went. Her 3 year old little boy was utterly terrified so they had to find him somewhere to stay so they could go on their own.
 
Is it true that you never hear bird song there?
Just a tale I’ve heard,,,

My stepdaughter and her mum went a few years ago,,, ( I was busy working) and said it was emotional for both of them!! They never really said anything about it when they came home!! Xx
 
Yes, you don't hear birdsong there - but then again you probably wouldn't notice as it is an overwhelming place. I visited twice, taking coach parties, whilst I was a driver and was able to join a tour. Enjoy is NOT a word that should be used, but I'm glad that I took the opportunity. Like others have said, we left with a very subdued and quiet coach, some emotionally stressed and not a few tears shed. All I will say is that, if you can work up the courage, you should visit and I'm sure you'll come away a better person.
 
Been 4 times, was taking Jewish holocaust rememberence groups to Krakow so it was respectful to visit as well.
The bird thing is a myth, depends on time of year, winter is the most depressing, summer grass growing so more green.
First time was a bit overwhelming but the more I went the more small parts hit me.
Each time left more of an impact
Standing at the top of the stairs of the ruined gas chambers brought it home, feeling all the people going down to their deaths.
Also on the platform, the confusion and helplessness must have been awful.

I feel that if more people went their would be less racial intolerance, but then some people are blind to these things.

Not sure how much is taught in schools, possibly not taught or understood, was with an air hostess in Auschwitz 1, a work camp, and she said why did people agree to come their, after explaining she was shocked, not sure if it was her Irish schooling or never taught, but could not believe she didn't understand these places.

Have also been to oradour another place where you cannot understand how people can behave in such a way, although I feel that was more due to the effect of damaged minds due to the stress of war fighting on the eastern front.

Went to Sarajevo a few years ago, although a functioning city now still has the scars from the war when they were trapped by the Serbs, the destroyed buildings, mortar damage and memorials to where people had died.

It's places like these that makes me want to shout out against racism prejudice and inequality.

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We went to Dachau near Munich, it's informative and chilling to see what they did, makes your hair stand on end to see first hand the atrocities and murder that took place. I have seen it once but wouldn't go again.
 
Being a young child when Eichmann was on trial and there was so much in the papers regarding the case I’ve always had an interest regarding the suffering of all humanity be it then or now. Have been to Dachau a few years ago and last year went to
A Oradour-s -Glane with my wife. The respect shown there is incredible, no talking just total peace. My wife finally understood why I’ve always had this interest.
As to the OP question, I will also be visiting Auschwicz which I have looked into a few times but for one reason or another have not gone as yet.
How I personally feel when there I’ve no real idea but I know I have to go.
Ray
 
I went a good few years ago.. It's a must for anyone to truly experience the horror of the concentration camps.. I deliberately went in late November, when it was cold, snowing with a wind chill.. Only then can you understand and appreciate what must have gone on there... I'll be taking Kat there next year... These places must never be forgotten..
 
Not done the concentration camps, but have visited WW1 battle sites and done the complete Overlord D-Day tour in Normandy.
All very moving and made us realise what they must have gone through.
Makes you think and reflect.
Would recommend that you try these as well,
BTW D-day tour is fully signed and starts at Pegasus Bridge near Caen
Joe & Sue
 
nicholsong said:
I agree.

We live about 25km from Auschwitz but I have no desire to visit, nor does Basia want to visit again, because when she was a teacher she had to take pupils there multiple times.

Geoff
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Just as an addendum to my own post.

I was brought up by my Grandparents and in the fifties I can remember seeing a book they had entitled 'Least we Forget', which included many graphic photographs, taken mainly by military photographers, immediately after the death camps were liberated.

I doubt whether many Media Editors would publish some of those photographs now, being too horrific. Some of the less horrific may be in the Museum at Auschwitz but I do not know.

My point is I have carried those images in my head for 60 years and I doubt whether a visit to the actual site, which from photographs I have seen of its current state, has been greatly sanitised, compared with the photos.

Geoff

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