Mauthausen, Nazi concentration camp memorial in Mauthausen, Austria
Mauthausen is a concentration camp set on a hilltop overlooking the Danube River, roughly 20 kilometers east of Linz. The preserved stone structures, granite quarry, crematorium, and barracks remain visible across the site.
The camp opened in 1938 and operated until 1945, holding roughly 190,000 people from across Europe. Most died from forced labor, starvation, and systematic killings within the main site and its satellite camps.
Multiple national monuments spread across the grounds honor citizens from different countries who died here. Visitors can see how each nation has created its own space to remember those who were lost.
Wear sturdy shoes and bring weather protection, as the site sits on a hillside with gravel paths throughout. Guided tours in several languages are available and help visitors understand the different areas and their purposes.
The notorious Death Stairs consist of 186 stone steps leading from the granite quarry up to the camp, where prisoners hauled heavy blocks under brutal conditions. This treacherous route became a symbol of the camp's cruelty and the suffering prisoners endured daily.
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