Europe Trip - Day 3 Terezin, Czech Republic

Day 3 in Czech Republic! After roaming around the Prague city the whole day and spent my time sightseeing most of the tourist attractions, there weren't much I would want to see.

Read more on my Arrival Day, Day 1 and Day 2 trip in Prague! Tips, informational and reviews while I was there!

Let's continue... Knowing that during WW2 the Nazi occupied Prague, I googled anything related to WW2 and I found out there is a place called Terezin. It was a Ghetto/Concentration Camp.

As a holocaust enthusiast since I was 11 years when I first laid my eyes on Stephen Spielberg's documentary DVD "The Last Days" I couldn't grasp the concept on how the mass murder took place. Years gone by, more and more movies and documentaries that I watched I grew more fondly into this part of the history.

Map of the Ghetto and Small Fortress of Terezin

Not knowing much about Terezin Concentration Camp (Theresienstadt Concentration Camp) except it was a ghetto and there was the small fortress I didn't know anything about it. Also, it was sort of a preparation for myself before heading to Auschwitz Concentration Camp, so I went online to search how to get to Terezin.

Tip: Suggest you to go there as early as possible. You will need a day to see the entire Ghetto and Fortress.

Terezin was a propaganda ghetto and concentration camp during the 1940 - 1945. It was made to show the public on during the occupation how well they treated the Jews. It was also a labour camp too. Eventually it became a transport place allowing tens and thousands of Jews to enter and get sent off by cattle trains to other death camps, like Auschwitz. Read more about Terezin.

Where is Terezin? How to get to Terezin?

Terezin is located an hour outside of Prague. You will have to take the metro and exchange a bus to get there. The method I used was pretty easy and I got there on time! If you would like to know how to get to Terezin, read the bulletins below:

Do you research on the time for the bus:

• Check the Holesovice Bus Station Schedule to Terezin.
  Timetable: Bus
  From: Praha, Nadrazi Holesovice
  To: Terezin, Litmoerice (***Note: It must be in Litmoerice (LT), if not you will be going to wrong place)
• Check the time on when will the bus arrive. I suggest you to be there a bit earlier to just incase.

The next day...

• Take the metro and get off at Nadrazi Holesovice (Line C)
• Bus logos will direct you to the Holesovice Bus Station.
• Look for Bus 16 or Bus 17
• Check the bus schedule and see if it goes to Litmoerice (LT). 
• Pay your bus fare to the driver.
• Bus fare is 62CKZ (from the website), it is best to ask the driver how much it is. 
• There is an express bus and a slow bus. Ask the driver.

Free Wifi is available on the bus.

There will be 2 stops at Terezin. Do not miss them if not you will be heading to the next town Litmoerice.

• The first stop will be at the memorial field. You will see a huge Star of David, once you pass the field, you can get off and head to the Theresienstadt Concentration Camp. 
• The second stop will be at the Muzeum Ghetta (Ghetto Museum).
• You can purchase the tickets in both the concentration camp and the Muzeum Ghetta.

Tip 1 : Get the full ticket to see the ghetto, small fortress and the concentration camp 180CZK Full/140 CZK Reduced.

Tip 2 : Get a map! You will have to walk to different buildings and locations to see the site. It is best to get a few maps because the ticket has a map but it isn't very help due to no street names only location number you need. The map you have may not have the same street name on what the map on the board says. Also, there aren't signs telling you where the exhibition on other things are. The only signs you can see are stands at the entrance. You will have to find your way yourself. If not, just wait for the tour that is available for you.

I hope the information above helps! Now read more on my day at Terezin and know there is!

I arrived at Terezin about 11:30am (Easter Day). Checked the last bus back to Prague was at 6:30pm. As my friend and I thought we will have plenty of time! YES! 

The Ghetto Map

Then we realised something... This town is really small and it's really really really really EMPTY! I am not kidding you, this town is really eery. You will feel like you have just entered some teen horror flick where a serial killer is going to come out with his chainsaw.  

The deserted town

See what I mean! No one and just a few cars parked. I think they are just by passer and tourists. I only see some locals here and there but not much. I guess after the flood people just didn't come back.

Anyway our first stop was at the Muzeum Ghetta. We purchased our tickets and started our tour. There will be tour guides available at certain times. Please at the staff there.

Museum about Terezin during the Occupation

Names of children that was in Terezin and passed away.

Painting and drawing by children about their daily lives inside the ghetto.

Post cards that was sent to Terezin during the Occupation.

The first few rooms on the ground floor it was mainly about the children that was inside the ghetto. Poems, drawings, painting and news articles that they made during their time there. There is a room where it is filled with all the children names that passed on. It was very emotional for me to see so many innocent lives that suffered and perished. The upper floor was about the occupation and how the Nazi transported the people to Terezin and to other parts of the camps. You will also see what sort of things they used during their time at the ghetto etc.

Replica of the Magdeburg Barracks

Replica of the Magdeburg Barracks

Replica of the theater

The next stop was the Magdeburg Barracks. There was flood in and everything was wiped out, so now they created a replica on how the barracks looked like inside the Ghetto. Honestly, when I saw the barrack it looked really new. Everything was new and it even smell new but with some imagination you can totally grasp the time when it was packed with people and lack of hygiene, it was a horrible place to live in. You will also see politicians, artists, musician artworks inside. Most of them were sent off the Auschwitz in The Final Solution. 

The next stop was to the small fortress and the crematorium. Terezin wasn't made as a death camp. People did die to due lack of nutrients, sick and labor.

Walking to the Small Fortress

Small Fortress

Crematorium

The Crematorium was really creepy! I am not sure if it was how the brick house that made the room super cold or it is some supernatural thing going on. The coldest room I have ever been in. It didn't felt like you were in a freezer. The cold started from your spine and up to your ears. I even had goosebumps. The moment I got in, I wanted to cry. There are 2 other rooms inside. 1 is the operation room and the other was just a storage room.

Please pay your respect by lighting a candle and placing where you can see other candles are places. It's only 5 CZK (less than 1 Euro)

After the Small Fortress it was time to sit back and relax a bit before heading to the Main Fortress where the Concentration Camp located. Just before entering the Crematorium you will pass by a Pension. Stop by and have a local beer! The owner is really friendly. He may not know English but he has an English menu! There are plenty of selection on the menu. If not you can go back to the town and find a pizzeria.

Where is the Pension?

After relaxing our legs it was time to check out how families lived inside the ghetto. The living condition and daily things during WW2.

The place may look decent for a family for 4-6 people live in it but if you think during the time when hundreds or even thousands of Jews were coming into Terezin, this place will be packed with 5 families or even more in other rooms.

Memorial Monument

Ohre River

The Ohre River, where over 20 thousand Jewish victims ashes were thrown into the river. I don't know if the locals even know what happened here as the opposite from me, it was a golf course. Anyway, a 10 minutes walk to the Concentration Camp.

Burial Cemetery before entering the gate of the concentration camp. 

The entrance of the Terezin Concentration Camp

The camp was big! Everything inside the camp was open to visitors. No door was closed! Which was kind of creepy and most of all there weren't many people there, so when you are looking at one of the barracks you are by yourself. Each room inside was very cold too but not as cold as the one in the Crematorium. 

Work will set you free

General Population Court Yard

Shower room

Individual Barracks

This was creepy to me. Each door in this barrack was opened!

General Population Barrack.

Where the SS guards can see the camp on both side

This whole experience was very really awesome! If you would like to see other things outside Prague and educated yourself you can visit Terezin! If you are a history junkie, then this is definitely a place for you! Also, if you are a supernatural junkie this is really a place for you!

Hope this helps everyone and letting you see a glimpse of Terezin!

Next blog... Stuck in Terezin at night! How to get out & back to Prague!