Lichtenburg Castle, built during the Renaissance in the middle of the small town of Pretten (now a district of Altenburg), was used as a concentration camp from 1933 to 1945, initially as a men's camp, then as a women's camp, and lastly as a satellite camp of the Sachsenhausen concentration camp. During this period, more than 10,000 people were detained at the Lichtenburg concentration camp.
Almost all the historical structures of the castle complex remain standing today. In December 2011, the permanent exhibition "Es ist böse Zeit…" – Die Konzentrationslager im Schloss Lichtenburg 1933-1945 ("It Is an Evil Time...' – The Concentration Camp at Lichtenburg Castle 1933 to 1945") opened in the former workshop buildings. The memorial site also includes the former bunker, which was used as a place of punishment and aggravated arrest.
In addition to the access to the former bunker, the Lichtenburg Concentration Camp Memorial in Prettin also features a two-floor exhibition on the history of the castle and the different concentration camps. Special focus is placed on the so-called "early" concentration camps and the development of the concentration camp system using Lichtenburg Castle as an example.
Visitors can expect to find an extensive and multifaceted selection of group-oriented educational offers aimed at young people and adults. This includes, among other things, general introductory tours as well as project days on various thematic priorities. Advanced registration is required.
Detailed information on the available educational opportunities can be found by clicking on the link to the online presence of the Lichtenburg Concentration Camp Memorial in Prettin.
Access to the visitor and documentation center as well as the way to the former bunker is barrier free, and the bunker can be entered. There is an elevator in the visitor and documentation center to the upper floors of the exhibition, and a barrier-free toilet is on site.
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