Plac Bohaterów Getta

Plac Bohaterów Getta

Situated in the Podgórze district, this square features 70 empty bronze chairs, symbolizing the tragedy of the Jews deported from the Kraków Ghetto during World War II. Plac Bohaterów Getta, or the Heroes of the Ghetto Square, is a significant historical site located in Kraków’s Kazimierz district. The square commemorates the memory of the Jewish community of Kraków, particularly the victims of the Nazi occupation during World War II. It is situated near the former Jewish Ghetto, where thousands of Jews were forcibly confined before being deported to concentration camps. The square features a striking memorial, including a series of large, rusted steel chairs that symbolize the empty homes and lives of the Jewish population who once lived there.

The chairs serve as a poignant tribute to the residents of the Kraków Ghetto, many of whom were sent to their deaths in extermination camps. The memorial was designed by artist Piotr Lewicki and architect Krzysztof Wodiczko and was unveiled in 2005. It serves as a place for reflection and remembrance, drawing attention to the horrors faced by the Jewish community during the Holocaust. Plac Bohaterów Getta is an important site for both locals and visitors, offering a moment of solemn reflection on the impact of the Holocaust on Kraków’s Jewish community. Visitors to the square can learn about the history of the ghetto, as well as explore nearby sites such as the Oskar Schindler Factory Museum and the Remuh Synagogue, which provide further context to the history of the Jewish population in Kraków.