Buchenwald Memorial

The Buchenwald Memorial (Gedenkstätte Buchenwald) on the Ettersberg hill above Weimar preserves the site of one of the largest Nazi concentration camps on German soil. Between 1937 and 1945, about 277,800 people from some 50 countries were imprisoned here, and an estimated 56,000 died. Today the former camp grounds, exhibitions and a large memorial complex are open to visitors free of charge. It is a sobering but essential place for understanding 20th-century German history.

Where it is and how to get there

Buchenwald lies a few miles northwest of central Weimar, the city of Goethe and Schiller in Thuringia. Weimar is on the main rail line through central Germany, so many visitors combine both on a day trip, for example from Erfurt or Leipzig.

• By bus: line 6 runs several times a day from Weimar's Goetheplatz and the main station to Buchenwald, taking about 20 minutes. On weekends line 4 also serves the site.
• By car: take the A4 to exit Nohra, then drive about 18 km. Parking is free.

History

The SS began building the camp in July 1937. Political opponents, Jews, Sinti and Roma, gay men, Jehovah's Witnesses and people from across occupied Europe were held here; tens of thousands died from hunger, disease, abuse and murder. On April 11, 1945, prisoners took control of the camp as US troops approached; the clock on the gatehouse is still stopped at 3:15 pm, the moment of liberation.

From 1945 to 1950, the Soviet occupation authorities used the site as Special Camp No. 2, where about 28,000 people were held and roughly 7,000 died. The national memorial opened in 1958.

What you will see

• The gatehouse with the iron gate reading "Jedem das Seine" ("To each his own"), designed by prisoner and Bauhaus-trained artist Franz Ehrlich.
• The former prisoners' camp, where gravel fields now mark the sites of vanished barracks.
• The detention cells and crematorium.
• Four permanent exhibitions, including the main exhibition on the history of the camp from 1937 to 1945.
• The memorial complex on the southern slope with its bell tower and Fritz Cremer's bronze group of prisoners.

Opening hours and tickets

As of October 2026, the exhibitions are open Tuesday to Sunday and on public holidays, 10 am to 6 pm from April to October and 10 am to 4 pm from November to March; they are closed on Mondays. The outdoor historic site can be visited daily until dusk.

Admission is free. The main exhibition requires a free timed ticket booked online; walk-ins are admitted only if space allows. Public guided tours of the grounds are offered in German, English and French for €10 (reduced €5); the minimum age is 15. A multimedia guide costs €5 and is available in English and several other languages, or you can download the free "Buchenwald" app.

Tips for your visit

Allow at least three hours, plus about an hour if you want to see the memorial complex. Wear sturdy shoes and warm clothing, as the hilltop is exposed to wind. The memorial advises against bringing children under 12 into the museum, cells and crematorium. The visitor center, exhibition buildings and café are wheelchair accessible, and paths on the grounds have few barriers. Food options are limited, since the café near the parking lot has reduced hours, so bring a snack.