museum
Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial
The preserved Nazi camp and museum near Oswiecim, a sombre, essential stop for remembrance.
1 km · about 5 min drive
EuropePolandLesser Poland
Oświęcim
Lesser Poland, Poland · Europe
About Oświęcim
Oświęcim is worth a stop: 10 minutes from Bieruń Nowy, 52km from Wawel Cathedral.
Oświęcim is in Lesser Poland, Poland, with about 34,000 people. You drive on the right here. The nearest town is Bieruń Nowy, about 5 km away.
Oświęcim is a town in the Lesser Poland Voivodeship in southern Poland, situated 33 kilometres (21 mi) southeast of Katowice, near the confluence of the Vistula (Wisła) and Soła rivers.
Oświęcim dates back to the 12th century, when it was an important castellan seat. From 1315 to 1457 it was the seat of a local lineRead more
of the Piast dynasty, and from 1564 to 1772 it was a royal city of the Kingdom of Poland, with the Ducal and Royal Castle and several medieval Gothic churches among the city's landmarks. Located on the east-west trade route, it was an important hub for trade, especially in salt from Wieliczka. In the interwar period, Oświęcim was a garrison town for the Polish Army, and during the German occupation of Poland in World War II, the former barracks were expanded to host the infamous German Nazi Auschwitz concentration camp (also known as KL or KZ Auschwitz Birkenau), now the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Oświęcim is a railroad junction, a center of chemical, electrical machinery and building materials industries, and home to Unia Oświęcim, one of the most accomplished Polish ice hockey teams.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Oświęcim?
Within an hour or so of Oświęcim: Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial (1 km), Wawel Cathedral (52 km), Wawel Castle (52 km), Krakow Main Market Square (52 km).
Are there any good drives near Oświęcim?
The nearest famous roads are Zakopianka (Road to the Tatras), Droga pod Reglami, Zakopane and Dunajec Gorge Road (Czorsztyn–Sromowce).
Where is Oświęcim?
Oświęcim is in Lesser Poland, Poland, about 5 km from Bieruń Nowy.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 34,170
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- Poland
- Region
- Lesser Poland
- Timezone
- Europe/Warsaw
- Coordinates
- 50.0344, 19.2104
Tags
Worth the detour from Oświęcim
7 notable places within an hour's drive.
cathedral
Wawel Cathedral
Poland's national sanctuary and traditional coronation site of Polish monarchs on Wawel Hill.
52 km · about 60 min drive
landmark
Wawel Castle
Fortified architectural complex atop Wawel Hill in Kraków, the historic seat of Polish kings for over 500 years.
52 km · about 60 min drive
landmark
Krakow Main Market Square
Europe's largest medieval square, anchored by the Cloth Hall and a bugle-call tower, ringed by cafes.
52 km · about 60 min drive
cafe
Jama Michalika
Kraków's legendary Art Nouveau café at Floriańska 45, opened in 1895, where the Zielony Balonik cabaret and Young Poland artists held court. The stained-glass interior is packed with original caricatures and puppets.
52 km · about 60 min drive
landmark
Kraków Jewish Quarter (Kazimierz)
A historic Jewish district turned bohemian cultural hub, filled with synagogues, galleries, and atmospheric cafés.
53 km · about 60 min drive
film location
Ogrodzieniec Castle (The Witcher, Kaer Morhen)
The ruined Polish hilltop castle used as Kaer Morhen and battle sites in Netflix's The Witcher.
53 km · about 60 min drive
Driving in Poland
- Drives on
- the right
- Petrol
- ~€1.42/litre
- Motorway tolls
- ~€5.00/100km
When to drive here
April to October
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