Gedenkstätte Bautzen
Memorial in the former Stasi prison Bautzen II on political imprisonment under the Nazis, in the Soviet special camp, and in East Germany – free admission.
Om museet
Few places symbolize political imprisonment in the Soviet occupation zone and East Germany as strongly as Bautzen. The town had two prisons: the state penitentiary Bautzen I, opened in 1904 and popularly known as “Gelbes Elend” (Yellow Misery), and the court prison Bautzen II, built in 1906 together with the local and regional courts. During the Nazi era, people held in so-called protective custody were also interrogated and abused here. After 1945, the Soviet secret police used Bautzen II as a remand prison, while Bautzen I served as a special camp until 1950, where thousands of people died.
In 1956, the Ministry for State Security (Stasi) set up a special prison in Bautzen II for around 200 inmates – among them regime critics, prisoners from West Germany, and alleged spies. As a cover, the prison officially remained under the Ministry of the Interior. The political prisoners were released in December 1989, and the facility closed for good in January 1992.
Largely at the urging of former inmates, who had joined together in the Bautzen-Komitee in 1990, a memorial was established in the building and first opened to visitors in 1993. Since 1994 it has been run by the Stiftung Sächsische Gedenkstätten, whose concept explicitly includes Nazi persecution and the history of Bautzen I. The cell block, preserved largely in its original state, can be explored independently; exhibitions, an introductory film, media stations, and tours with eyewitnesses present the history of both prisons across three periods of persecution.
Højdepunkter
- Cell block of the Stasi special prison, largely preserved in its original state
- Exhibitions on Nazi imprisonment, the Soviet special camp, and the Stasi prison
- Introductory film (23 minutes) on the history of both Bautzen prisons
- Regular guided tours with former political prisoners
- Free admission and free public guided tours
Permanente udstillinger
- Stasi-Gefängnis Bautzen II. 1956–1989 – The tour leads through the cells, interrogation rooms, and yards of the Stasi special prison; information pillars present locations within the prison and individual prisoners' stories.
- Geschichte des Speziallagers Bautzen. 1945–1956 – The exhibition documents the Soviet special camp in the “Gelbes Elend” and the living conditions of those interned and sentenced there.
- Haft unterm Hakenkreuz. Bautzen I und Bautzen II 1933–1945 – It covers the prison system in both Bautzen prisons during the Nazi dictatorship, including the persecution of political opponents.
- Grundlagt
- 1993
- Ejer
- Stiftung Sächsische Gedenkstätten zur Erinnerung an die Opfer politischer Gewaltherrschaft
- Ledelse
- Silke Klewin
Entrépriser & rabatter
Der er gratis entré.
| Børn og unge | –Free admission for everyone. |
|---|---|
| Grupper | –Group tours by appointment (at least 6 weeks in advance): €90 per group, €100 in English; free for schools, university students, FSJ (voluntary social year) groups, apprentices, and people with disabilities. |
Admission and public guided tours are free. Project days for school classes and youth groups are also free of charge; the Saxon Ministry of Education subsidizes school class trips to memorial sites.
Tilgængelighed
- Delvis kørestolsvenlig
- Elevator
- Handicaptoilet: ingen oplysninger
- Handicapparkering: ingen oplysninger
- Servicehunde tilladt
- Taktile tilbud: ingen oplysninger
- Rundvisninger på tegnsprog: ingen oplysninger
- Letlæste tilbud: ingen oplysninger
- Synstolkning: ingen oplysninger
Partially accessible for people with limited mobility: there are a few steps at the main entrance; alternatively, an elevator with an outside entrance is available at the back of the cell block (please ask the staff). Inside, all floors can be reached by elevator. Dogs are not allowed, except assistance dogs.
Børn og familie
Kun delvist egnet til børn
Memorial site; student projects from grade 10 (some also in a version for grade 8).
Transport & parkering
Med offentlig transport
Bahnhof Bautzen · 10 min. til fods
By regional train or Regional-Express hourly from Dresden Hbf or Dresden-Neustadt to Bautzen station, then about a 10-minute walk.
By car via the A 4 (Dresden–Görlitz), exit Bautzen-West or Bautzen-Ost; from Dresden approx. 40 minutes.
Planlæg ruteService & spisesteder
The memorial's publications are available from the foundation's online shop. Dogs (other than assistance dogs) are not allowed.
Arrangementer & udlejning
Museet har ikke offentliggjort oplysninger om dette – spørg venligst museet direkte.
Planlæg dit besøg
| Rundvisninger | ja · varighed ca. 1,5 t. |
|---|---|
| Tilbud til skoler | ja |
| Godt at vide | The building can be explored independently; a 23-minute introductory film, media stations, and information pillars accompany the tour, and the film and media content are also available online. Regular guided tours with eyewitnesses (in 2026, including October 2–4, November 6–8, and December 25–27). Group tours and project days can be booked via a registration form. |
