Oscar Shindler's Factory, Krakow

Oscar Shindler's Factory, Krakow (must see)

The story of Oscar Shindler’s factory is something many of us know, thanks to Stephen Spielberg’s film, 'The Schindler’s List'. A German industrialist, who initially was just interested in benefiting from the German invasion of Poland, Shindler later became pivotal in saving hundreds of Jewish lives from the torture and death that awaited them in the death camps.

Shindler came to Poland in 1939 and bought a needle enamelware factory from the bankruptcy court. With the help of a German-speaking Jew, his accountant Itzhak Stern, he obtained 1000 Jewish workers for his factory. Workers from the Jewish camps were far cheaper and the factory did quite well. Schindler soon climbed up the societal ladder and became an important member of the Nazis in Poland. Although initially motivated by monetary gains, Schindler soon witnessed the plight of the Jews who were being gathered and deported to Płaszów. Horrified by the mass murder, Schindler started protecting his own workers, going to an extent of bribing, negotiating and even vouching for those who were physically unfit to work.

The museum is filled with photographs, documents, and tools that were used in the factory. The factory still instills a vibe of how it must have been back then, during the invasion and the struggle that came along with it. A sobering experience and a must visit if you love history.

Why You Should Visit:
This museum experience is unique, and the information is presented with an unforgettable perspective.

Tip:
You need to pre-book your ticket online (www.bilety.mhk.pl) for this extremely busy historical site, as the organization is rather poor with regard to the ticket office.
Consider getting a guide on-site for a 'whirlwind' tour; otherwise, plan to spend a few hours to fully engage with all the content as there's so much to read and look at!

Opening Hours:
Mon: 10am-2pm; Tue-Sun: 10am-6pm, every 1st Tuesday – closed (Nov-Mar); Mon: 9am-4pm, every 1st Monday – open until 2pm; Tue-Sun: 9am-8pm, every 1st Tuesday – closed (Apr-Oct)
LAST ADMISSION 90 MINS BEFORE CLOSING TIME
Sight description based on Wikipedia.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Krakow. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from iTunes App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

Download The GPSmyCity App

Download 'GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities' app for IOS   Download 'GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities' app for Android

Oscar Shindler's Factory on Map

Sight Name: Oscar Shindler's Factory
Sight Location: Krakow, Poland (See walking tours in Krakow)
Sight Type: Museum/Gallery
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Walking Tours in Krakow, Poland

Create Your Own Walk in Krakow

Create Your Own Walk in Krakow

Creating your own self-guided walk in Krakow is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Historical House Museums Tour

Historical House Museums Tour

Well-preserved historical buildings can often tell the stories of their city more vividly than any history book can. Krakow, the old capital and culture center of Poland, for many years has been the home of many important Poles. Today their former dwellings have been converted into museums so that visitors can learn about their ex-residents and see what life was like in the past. On this...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.0 Km or 1.2 Miles
Krakow Introduction Walking Tour

Krakow Introduction Walking Tour

A unique entry on the list of the World Heritage Sights, Krakow is a recognized center of the academic, artistic and cultural life of Poland. Established in the 7th century as a tiny hamlet at the top of the Wawel Hill, overlooking the Vistula River, it is one of the country's oldest cities. Over the course of the next fifteen centuries it has evolved into the nation's second-largest...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.0 Km or 1.9 Miles
Historical Churches Walking Tour

Historical Churches Walking Tour

Krakow, earlier considered “the Northern Rome” is a city of many churches. It is the center of the religious life of the country. New churches continue to appear today, but the most attractive and interesting are the old ones. Some of them have wonderful architecture, others are picturesque or have historical value. Many of them possess relics and old manuscripts. Check out the most acclaimed...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.2 Km or 1.4 Miles
Jewish Heritage Tour in Krakow

Jewish Heritage Tour in Krakow

Jewish community has been an integral part of Krakow since the late 13th century. On the eve of World War II, there were 60,000 Jews living in the city, mostly in the Kazimierz District, accounting for one-fourth of the local population. The old town square in Kazimierz was the center of Jewish life.

During the war, the Nazis separated Jews from the rest of Cracovians in a ghetto and attempted...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.1 Km or 1.9 Miles