Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe

Prepare yourself mentally for the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe because it is deeply moving. It is really one of the most moving Holocaust memorials ever created. You are about to enter a labyrinth of stone slabs. Designed by American architect Peter Eisenman, this vast 19,000 m² field is covered with 2,711 dark grey concrete slabs, each varying in height. As you gradually walk deeper into the maze, the ground begins to slope unevenly beneath your feet, creating a growing sense of unease, confusion, helplessness, and oppression. The idea is to represent an orderly system that has lost all touch with human reason. To walk through this place obliges you to reflect on what has happened. Beneath this graveyard lies the underground information center, an interesting place where other memorials are also contained. The visit inside is free, though it is not recommended for children under 14 as the photographs are difficult to witness, depicting the gruesome reality, as well as testimonies that transport us into the traumatising experience. It is both a tribute and bitter pill to swallow. Inside, you’ll discover several rooms. It begins with an introductory space offering a historical overview of the Holocaust. Afterwards, the Room of Dimensions presents deadly statistics that reveal the scale of the genocide. We next have the Room of Families, which shares intimate portraits of Jewish families before, during, and after the war. Furthermore, the Room of Sites gives details on the locations and operations of some Nazi concentration and extermination camps. Finally, the Room of Names projects on the wall all names and short biographies of the six million Jews murdered during the Holocaust in Europe. It would take six years to read all the names. This is a heartbreaking reminder of the scale and horror of this genocide, often described as one of the darkest episodes in human history.