Recommended Visitor Age
A visit to the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum is not recommended for children and young people under the age of 14. Ideally, visitors should be between 17 and 19 years old to engage with the exhibition thoughtfully and sensitively.
Emotional Challenges for Young Visitors
Teachers and accompanying adults should be prepared for young people to react to the exhibition in different ways. Some may feel emotionally overwhelmed and respond by crying, withdrawing or even becoming aggressive. Others may suppress what they have seen, appear indifferent or make inappropriate jokes to avoid seeming vulnerable in front of their peers. Some pupils also expect the memorial to be an unusual attraction or a kind of horror experience. Regrettably, some visitors treat the museum as one of several tourist stops to be “ticked off” during a trip to Krakow, alongside the Wieliczka Salt Mine or an excursion to Zakopane. Some groups even combine the visit with a trip to a nearby amusement park.
Important Preparation Before the Visit
Another frequent obstacle is insufficient knowledge of the historical context of the Second World War. Without this foundation, it is difficult to understand the tragedy and significance of the site. The museum’s main exhibition does not provide a complete historical introduction or explain the history of the Holocaust or the war in detail. There is no time during the tour for an additional introduction, so young people should be properly prepared beforehand to enable a deeper understanding.
The Memorial as a Place of Peace and Respect
Please remember that Auschwitz-Birkenau is not only a museum but, above all, an enormous cemetery. The remains of countless victims still lie here, and people from around the world come to pay their respects, remember the victims and express their grief. The special character of this place requires dignified conduct from every visitor: remain quiet, wear appropriate clothing and do not eat or smoke on the grounds. Each person’s behaviour should respect the feelings and intentions of others and be appropriate to a place of remembrance.
Organising Commemorative Events on the Museum Grounds
Larger commemorative ceremonies on the museum grounds always require prior permission from the museum management.
