Terezin Concentration Camp
The Terezín Concentration Camp was once a witness to one of history’s darkest chapters. Unlike other concentration camps that were created during WW2, Terezín, or Theresienstadt, was unique. It was primarily used as a way station for hundreds of thousands of Jews before they were sent to extermination camps, such as Treblinka, Sobibor, and Auschwitz. Terezín was both a concentration camp and a ghetto, housing more than 350,000 Jews and other victims at one point, including thousands of Jewish children who were deported to the ghetto.
Today, the Terezin Concentration Camp stands as a reminder of one of the darkest chapters in our history. Visiting Terezín paints an all-too-real picture of what transpired in the past and the small hopes that bloomed within its walls.
Brief History of the Terezin Concentration Camp
Situated around 30 to 40 miles northwest of Prague, Terezín was originally intended as a holiday resort for Czech nobility. Built by Emperor Joseph II of Austria in the late 18th century, it was named after his mother, Empress Maria Theresa. Terezín consists of two fortresses, a larger one and a smaller one situated across the Eger River, and an enclosed town that housed approximately 7,000 soldiers and their families.
Now, you might want to know, where is Terezin Concentration Camp located? Terezin is Situated around 30 to 40 miles northwest of Prague, Czech Republic. Terezin played a quite significant role during WW1, particularly the Small Fortress, which was used as a prison during that period. It held many political prisoners, including GavriloPrincip. The Serbian nationalist was responsible for assassinating Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife on June 28, 1914. The event marked the beginnings of WW1.
During WW2, czech concentration camp terezin was converted into a Jewish ghetto, mainly housing Jews from Czechoslovakia. Other deported Jews from countries such as Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, and Denmark were also sent to Terezín, where they were held for months or years, before being sent to extermination camps.
While Terezin Concentration Camp wasn’t exactly an extermination camp, as many as 33,000 prisoners perished within its walls due to malnutrition and disease. Poor living conditions and maltreatment by their captors also contributed to the many deaths within Terezín.
Who was sent to the Terezin Concentration Camp?
During WW2, many prisoners were sent to Terezín. Among the camp’s prisoners were Jewish veterans from WW1, intellectuals, writers, spiritual leaders, and artists, as well as half-Jewish people.
Planning a Day Trip for the Terezin Concentration Camp visit
One of the best ways to learn about Terezín’s history is by taking a Terezin Concentration Camp day tour. You can visit the Terezín Memorial, which offers both guided (with fees) and self-guided tours. With the former, you’ll be able to explore the Small Fortress and the former ghetto. The Memorial houses several exhibits and permanent exhibitions. Terezin Concentration Camp tickets ordinarily cost about 210 Czk, but this price may vary depending on the type of individual purchasing the ticket. The Terezin Concentration Camp tickets also have a reduced variant that only costs about 180 CZK.
If you want to know more about Terezín and what transpired there, you can also visit the Jewish Museum in Prague. Terezin Concentration Camp from Prague only takes about an hour if you’re travelling by car.
Jewish Museum in Prague.
The museum showcases drawings created between 1942 and 1944 by children who were imprisoned in the ghetto. Now part of the museum’s permanent exhibitions, many of the artworks were made during the children’s classes with Friedl Dicker-Brandeis. Friedl filled two suitcases with thousands of the children’s drawings and hid them in a secret place. The drawings depicted holiday celebrations and the children’s dreams of being able to return home.
Terezín Concentration Camp Tours
Terezín Concentration Camp Tours allows you to witness firsthand a historic site that saw the death and massacre of millions of innocent Jews during the second World war. Sites you can visit during your Terezín Concentration Camp Tour are listed below.
Art within Terezín’s Walls
Terezin Concentration Camp housed many artists, writers, and scholars, paving the way for a rich cultural life within its confines. Several artworks and music were created within the camp, some of which survived WW2 and are displayed in museums, such as the Jewish Museum in Prague.
Rafael Schächter, a Czech composer, was also held at the Terezín Concentration Camp. In 1943, he organized a chorus consisting of 150 Jews who performed in front of other prisoners, SS officers, and other members of the German army.
The rich cultural life within the camp belied the sobering truth that transpired within its walls. It was a propaganda camp and was used to mask the reality of what was really happening to its prisoners.
Terezin Concentration Camp Tour: A Lasting Experience
Terezin, a Concentration Camp designed to serve as a component of a brilliant network of Late Baroque military strongholds, is where so many people died and have since been seared into the collective memory of humanity ever since that terrible time in history.
Those curious about World War II and the Holocaust will benefit significantly from the tour.
So, make the most of your time in Prague by signing up for this guided tour to Terezin, which includes transportation to and from the city.
Highlights
- Meet up with your guide at the bottom of the Rudolfinum’s main staircase. A blue and white umbrella will be open, and the tour guide will be standing under it.
- Beginning at a price of €54 per head
- Cancel at no extra cost
- The tour takes 5 hours!
- Learn about the history of the Holocaust at the infamous Terezin Concentration Camp.
- A half-day trip from Prague will allow you to explore the Terezin Small Fortress and museum, among other sights.
- Learn how this old garrison town was converted into a concentration camp by taking a walking tour of the barracks where inmates were housed.
- Find out how profoundly life at Terezin shifted when the popular Nazis renamed the town Theresienstadt and transferred the very first Jewish transports in November of 1941.
- Gain a greater understanding of the camp’s past, and its landmarks’ significance will be yours.
What is Included
- A bus ride from Prague to Terezin and back
- Entry Ticket for the Terezin Concentration Camp
- Professional driver or guide who speaks Czech, English, German, and French
Not sure where to stay while in Prague? Check out our complete accomodation guide for useful info on how to find the best accommodation for your stay.
