This is how you visit Terezin, between the Memorial and the imposing fortification

One of the most emotional visits you can make in the Czech Republic is to get closer to memorial of the former concentration camp that nazis They settled in the small town of theresienstadt, now known as Terezín.

A place that should have gone down in history for its defensive system was overshadowed by the atrocities of Europe's darkest recent past.

I must warn you that this visit left me with a feeling that is very difficult to explain, because it is a place with two distinct histories, one opaque to the other.

It is a visit that can be done in one Terezín excursion from Prague in Spanish,since it is only 50 minutes from the Czech capital, or if you travel around the region, as was our case.

Here's the article where we tell you about everything you can see in the surrounding area.

• What to see in Ústí nad Labem, Czech Switzerland

But back to Terezín, I'll show you the Interesting facts about the history of Terezín, and my personal opinion of this visit, as well as giving you a sneak peek into what it will be like and what you'll see during it.

Terezín before World War II, a large 18th-century fortress

If I give you my personal opinion, what happened in this city and what it has become famous for is a disgrace.

But I tell you more, it is also a disgrace that this city is remembered for the Second World War, when it is a city with an impressive previous history typical of a destination Heritage.

In the beginning, Terezín was 18th-century fortress which was never conquered, because it was built with such care that it was designed so that no one would even have the idea of ​​attacking.

This place is very close to natural border crossings with Germany, which meant that potential invaders coming from the north had to pass through here.

And that is the reason for this impressive fortification with a great defensive system and an example for the world.

What I found most impressive about the visit to the fortress was explore its historic underground passages with lanterns, as if traveling through time.

And when you visit it, they show you in detail what the defense system consisted of, which even included flood zones.

Terezín, Jewish ghetto and concentration camp

But here comes the part that seemed most dramatic to me about this town.

The city of Terezín was so well fortified that the Nazis later used it as a city to group Jews into a ghetto and prison.

And this part overshadowed the tremendous previous defensive system that should have gone down in history for one thing, but instead went down for another.

It's as if the recent past has erased all of its history.

During the Second World War, the Nazis occupied Terezin and they used it to install a concentration camp.

Actually, in Terezin They set up, on the one hand, a jewish ghetto in the town, and on the other, a concentration camp inside its small fortress.

Terezin It was not a extermination camp, as was the case of Auschwitz, but a transition field to other camps, such as Auschwitz itself or Treblinka.

By Terezin More than 140.000 deportees of different nationalities passed through, especially Czechs and Germans, of whom 33.000 died from disease and hunger due to the harsh conditions of the camp.

However, Terezin was used for propaganda Nazi as a example of the benefits of a Jewish city under the Nazi regime.

For this purpose, a visit by representatives of the Red Cross and an idyllic life was staged within this jewish ghetto.

A propaganda film was even made with Terezin protagonist.

This is the experience of visiting Terezín, what to see

Upon arriving at Terezin from Prague, you will find two clearly differentiated areas to explore, as we could see during the experience of our visit.

On the one hand, the large fortress and the entire defensive system, and on the other hand, the small fortress that later became a tragic place.

At great strength Surrounding the town there is a museum where you can learn about the historical origins of the city and visit its facilities.

On the other hand there is the small fortress where the Ghetto Museum opened to the public in 1991, in the building of the former school of jewish ghetto.

This museum shows a exhibition on life in Terezín during the occupation of nazis.

Inside the great fortress there are also the ancient Magdeburg barracks, which were rebuilt and opened to the public in 1997.

And nearby, the Jewish cementary, the crematorium, the columbarium and morgue.

In front of its main entrance is the national cemetery, and inside you can tour the isolation cells or execution ground.

Terezin Visiting Hours

El schedule to visit the Terezin Memorial It extends from 9 in the morning until 17 hours, although the different dependencies and museums have a specific time, so before your visit, it is advisable to consult it.

Terezín visit ticket prices

Los ticket prices to visit Terezin They depend on the areas to visit, but the combined ticket costs 310 CZK (12,75 euros).

How to get to Terezín from Prague: all the options

If you do not have the option of rent a car for this visit from Prague, as well as to other nearby sites, or to make a route through the Czech Republic of several days duration, you have other alternatives to go to Terezin.

Terezín Tours from Prague

On the one hand, the most comfortable way is to sign up for a tourist excursion. with the advantage that you will have everything resolved and you will be accompanied by a tour guide that will speak to you in Spanish.

This excursion departs from the center of Prague at 9 am and during it you will have time to quietly visit the former Terezín concentration camp.

The excursion takes place in a private vehicle and exclusively in Spanish, and lasts about six hours.

Here you have all the information to sign up for the Terezín excursion from Prague in Spanish (here you have alternatives in English and other languages).

Even more comfortable is the option you have to sign up for a Private tour to Terezín from Prague, in which also accompanied with guide in Spanish, you will be picked up and dropped off at the hotel, and in a private vehicle you will go exclusively with your family or friends.

How to get to Terezín by bus from Prague

The third alternative would be go to Terezin on your own by regular bus.

The Nádraží Holešovice bus station, in the Czech capital, direct buses leave with varying frequencies, from every half hour to every hour and a half, which take 55 minutes on the journey.

To select the schedule, in the web search engine you must locate Terezín (LT), Well the bus line actually goes to Litomerice (LT).

El price of the bill It is 14 euros each way.

On this website you have the Bus schedules and prices from Prague to Terezin.

Map: where Terezín is and how to get there from Prague

El Memorial to the former Terezín Nazi concentration camp It is located 62 kilometers northwest of Prague, on the route to Dresden.