How do I get to the Mittelbau-Dora Memorial?
The memorial is located in northern Thuringia near the town of Nordhausen. For those arriving by car or coach, see the directions here.
It is also possible to take the streetcar or the Harzer Schmalspurbahn to the stop Nordhausen-Krimderode. From there it is about a 30-minute walk to the memorial. The Nordhausen municipal transport office also offers a call-a-bus service, which can be reserved by telephone up to one hour before departure. See
How long does it take to get from the Buchenwald Memorial near Weimar to the Mittelbau-Dora Memorial near Nordhausen?
You should allow for travel time of approximately 1 1/2 hours by car, bus, or motorcycle.
Is there free parking?
The signposted parking spaces on the grounds of the memorial are free of charge.
How much time should I allow for visiting the Mittelbau-Dora Memorial?
The guided tour for an individual visit to the memorial takes about 1 1/2 hours. We also recommend visiting the
You can tour the grounds on your own by using the app or the multimedia guide. We suggest that you allow approximately 80 minutes for such a self-guided tour.
What do I have to be aware of at the memorial?
The former concentration camp is a place where people suffered and died. To preserve its character as a place of remembrance and a cemetery, we kindly ask you to observe certain rules of conduct. Please wear appropriate clothing. Wearing clothing and symbols generally recognized to be manufactured or marketed within a right-wing extremist milieu is prohibited.
For additional information, please see the visitors' guidelines.
May I visit the underground tunnel system independently?
The tunnels may only be visited with a
What is important to remember when visiting the tunnel system?
Throughout the year, the underground temperature is a constant 8°C with high humidity. We therefore recommend that you wear warm clothes, including in summer. For further information, please refer to the visitor guidelines for the tunnel.
In addition to offerings for large groups, are there also offerings for individual visitors and small groups?
From Tuesday to Sunday and on public holidays, the Mittelbau-Dora Memorial regularly offers German-language tours for individuals and small groups, which start in front of the museum building.
For a self-guided tour of the memorial, visitors can use the app or borrow multimedia guides available in various languages (German, English, French, and Dutch) at the Visitor Information counter.
How much will my visit cost?
For individual guests, visits to the memorial and the exhibitions are free of charge. A guided tour costs 7 Euro (adults) or 3 Euro (reduced). You may be asked to pay moderate fees for additional offerings (such as borrowing a multimedia guide), which help us cover the expenses of providing these services.
See
Where do the tours start? How do I register?
All tours start in front of the museum building at a model of the camp. Since there is a limited number of spots available for each guided tour, we kindly ask visitors to register in advance through the Visitor Information, either by email at information@dora.de or by phone at 03631/495820. Before starting your tour, you must first check-in personally at the Visitor Information counter.
To register as a group, please see the required online form and more information here.
Are tours for individual visitors and small groups offered in foreign languages?
Tours for individual visitors and small groups are offered exclusively in German. However, brochures/guides are available in several foreign languages (English, French, Dutch, Polish, Russian, Danish, and Italian).
Group tours can also be booked in English and French. See here for the registration form and more information.
Is the memorial accessible for people with disabilities?
The new museum building is fully accessible for people with reduced mobility, while parts of the outdoor facilities of the former camp complex and the tunnel system are only partially accessible. We recommend contacting Visitor Information for more information and to discuss individual solutions.
What offerings are there for foreign-language visitors?
The texts of the permanent exhibition at the memorial are in German. Headings and summaries are also presented in English.
We also offer booklets in different languages (English, French, Polish, Russian), which contain all the exhibition texts. Booklets can be loaned free of charge at the Visitor Information counter before you visit the exhibition.
At the computers in the immersion area of the permanent exhibition, you can also access interviews with survivors and additional information on the subcamps in five languages.
For self-guided tours, both the app and the multimedia guide can be set to German, French, English, or Dutch.
Offers for groups can also be booked in English or French by arrangement. See here for more information.
Is there a special programme for groups?
See
How far in advance should I reserve a group visit?
When making reservations for groups, the rule is always: the sooner you reserve, the more dates available. Demand is especially high in the months of May, June, and July. For a group visit during this time of year, you should register at least ten months in advance. See here for more information.
No registration is required for individually organized visits to the memorial.
As a teacher, how can I prepare for a visit to the memorial?
The educational staff of the memorial supports the organizational and content-related preparation of visits. Information, recommendations, and tips can be found
Are there lockers for bags, backpacks, etc.?
For groups there are three large group lockers in the foyer.
Are filming and taking photographs permitted at the memorial?
When making audio recordings, filming, or taking photographs for professional purposes, you need to have a permit. Please request a permit well in advance from the Press and Public Relations Department here.
Photos may be taken on the grounds of the camp for purely private purposes without official permission. If you are taking part in a tour, please ask your guide before taking photographs. Photography is prohibited in the tunnel system during tours to avoid disturbing other visitors.
Are dogs permitted the memorial?
Dogs are not allowed on the grounds of the former inmates' camp or in the buildings (except guide dogs for the blind). Outside this area, dogs are allowed on a lead.
At what age should children visit the memorial?
We recommend that you do not visit the former crematorium or the exhibitions with children under 12 years of age. Offerings for registered groups are available to young people aged 15 (grade 9) and above.
How is the memorial's work financed?
The federal and state governments finance the majority of the memorial's work in equal shares. Donations enable us to carry out special projects.
Where can I find information about the history of Mittelbau-Dora?
The historical overview and chronology on the memorial website, the online reading list, the permanent exhibition and Visitor Information on site, and the
Research enquiries should be addressed to the Documentation Centre (archive) of the Memorial in writing. The memorial library offers possibilities for in-depth research.
What remains of the former camp? What can one see?
At first glance, the memorial site looks like a wooded park landscape. Upon closer examination, you will recognize numerous structural remnants of the former camp – such as the foundations of the barracks, the old railroad beds, the foundation walls of the camp prison, and numerous functional buildings such as the camp kitchen, the laundry, and the storage depot. The former crematorium has been completely preserved and can be visited. This is also the case for the former firehouse, which is now used to show special exhibitions.
Further information about the grounds of the former camp can be found on the
Can I conduct research on the topics related to the memorial?
You can research topics related to the history of the Mittelbau-Dora Concentration Camp in the Documentation Centre and in the library of the memorial. See here for more information.
Is it possible for me to research my relatives?
The
How can I find out about the National Socialist history of Nordhausen?
The brochure "Nordhausen im Nationalsozialismus" (Nordhausen under National Socialism) is available at the Visitor Information counter, in the
Further research sources include the library of the memorial, the city archives, and the city library of Nordhausen.
Where is it possible to hold commemorative events?
Commemorative events in memory of concentration camp inmates can be held at several locations on the memorial grounds. Most events take place on the memorial square in front of the former crematorium.
If you are planning a memorial event, please contact Visitor Information in advance.
How can I support the work of the memorial?
You are welcome to support our work by making a
