Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe
Berlin
The Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, also known as the Holocaust Memorial, is a poignant tribute located in Berlin's Mitte district near the Brandenburg Gate. Designed by architect Peter Eisenman and completed in 2004, the memorial spans 1.9 hectares and consists of 2,711 concrete slabs (stelae) arranged in a precise grid pattern across a gently sloping field. The slabs vary in height from 0.2 to 4.7 meters, creating a disorienting and contemplative atmosphere as visitors walk through narrow alleyways between them. Beneath the field lies the "Place of Information," an underground exhibition that presents the names of approximately three million Jewish Holocaust victims, sourced from Yad Vashem. The memorial stands on a historically significant site that once housed Joseph Goebbels' villa and the Berlin Wall's death strip, symbolizing both remembrance and the city's painful past. Since its inauguration in 2005, it has become a central place for reflection and education about the Holocaust's atrocities.
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Tip: Visit during weekday mornings or late afternoons to avoid crowds and experience a more contemplative atmosphere. Entrance to the outdoor memorial and the underground information center is free, but booking ahead is recommended for guided tours or special exhibitions. Accessibility paths are marked for visitors with mobility impairments. Photography is permitted but should be respectful of the memorial's solemn nature.
Interesting facts
- •The memorial consists of exactly 2,711 concrete slabs arranged in a grid covering 1.9 hectares.
- •The slabs vary in height from 0.2 to 4.7 meters, creating an uneven, wave-like surface.
- •The underground "Place of Information" contains the names of approximately three million Jewish Holocaust victims.
- •The site was once part of the Berlin Wall's death strip and included the location of Joseph Goebbels' villa.
- •The memorial was inaugurated on May 10, 2005, exactly 60 years after the end of WWII in Europe.
History
The idea for a memorial to the Jewish victims of the Holocaust emerged in the late 1980s, championed by journalist Lea Rosh and historian Eberhard Jäckel.
After extensive public debate and a design competition in 1994 that received over 500 submissions, architect Peter Eisenman's design was selected by the German Bundestag in 1999.
Construction began in 2003 on a site that was formerly part of the Berlin Wall's death strip and completed in late 2004.
The memorial was officially inaugurated in May 2005, marking 60 years since the end of World War II in Europe.
Place Guide
Field of Stelae2004
This outdoor area features 2,711 concrete slabs arranged in a grid on a sloping field. The slabs' varying heights and narrow alleys create a disorienting environment meant to evoke a sense of loss and remembrance.
Place of Information2005
An underground information center beneath the field, housing four exhibition rooms and two lecture rooms. It provides historical context and lists approximately three million names of Jewish Holocaust victims, with data sourced from Yad Vashem.
Contact
Phone: 030 2639430
