Memorial Park of the Great Synagogue in Oświęcim

The Memorial Park of the Great Synagogue in Oświęcim commemorates the Great Synagogue, the town's Jewish house of worship, which the German occupiers burned and demolished on the night of 29 to 30 November 1939. The park lies on Berka Joselewicza Street, near the Market Square.

Creation of the park

The idea arose almost eighty years after the demolition. It was initiated by the Auschwitz Jewish Center, and the construction was financed by a collection among residents, local companies, institutions and descendants of Oświęcim's Jews. The park was opened on 28 November 2019. It was designed by the architect Bartosz Haduch.

Layout

The layout traces the former footprint of the synagogue with a thin kerb. Inside are forty grey sandstone slabs measuring 120 by 220 cm, with a relief whose appearance changes with the light and weather. There are also information boards, benches with perforations inspired by the zodiac from the synagogue's former decorations, greenery, a photo exhibition and a 3D model of the building. The site has been distinguished, among others, with an award from the Marshal of the Lesser Poland Voivodeship.

Nearby

Next door is the Auschwitz Jewish Center, and nearby stands the Chevra Lomdei Mishnayot Synagogue.

Practical information

• Address: Berka Joselewicza Street, Oświęcim.
• This is a place of commemoration, so please keep quiet there.