Monument
Auschwitz cross
Some booking links are affiliate links. If you book through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We never let this influence which places we recommend.
The Auschwitz cross is a prominent 8-meter-tall cross erected near the entrance of Auschwitz I in the 1980s, originally to commemorate a nearby papal visit. It became a flashpoint for controversy, especially in the 1990s, when Jewish groups objected to its Christian symbolism dominating a site of Jewish martyrdom. Today, it remains a focal point for debate about the intersection of religious and Holocaust memory. Visitors see the cross against the camp's backdrop, often prompting reflection on the complexities of commemoration.
Don't miss
- View the large cross from the camp's perimeter, noting its prominent position.
- Read informational panels nearby explaining the history of the controversy.
- Observe the contrast between the cross and the camp's secular memorial landscape.
Tickets & tours
Ways to visit Auschwitz cross
You can usually visit on your own. A tour is worth it for transport, a guide, or combining nearby sights into one day.
Cheapest way inGuided Tour Krakow to Auschwitz-Birkenau with pickup options4.2★ · 1,229 travelers~8 hoursFree cancellationFrom$19 per personSee dates →
Best full dayKrakow to Auschwitz Birkenau Guided Tour with Transfer and Ticket4.8★ · 9,566 travelers~7 hoursFree cancellationFrom$35 per personSee dates →
Top ratedAuschwitz Birkenau Guided Tour with Hotel Pickup from Cracow4.9★ · 1,482 travelers~7 hoursFree cancellationFrom$31 per personSee dates →More attractions in Oswiecim