Exploring the Disturbing History of Auschwitz

Welcome to Caucasus to the Crown — a travel series documenting my journey through 16 countries across Europe, from the mountains of Armenia to the streets of London. In this episode, I spend the night in Katowice after arriving in southern Poland, taking some time to explore the local area before preparing for the next day’s visit to Auschwitz. The following morning, I travel to Auschwitz and join a guided tour through the remains of the camp. Walking through the site and learning more about its history is a sobering experience, offering a powerful insight into one of the darkest chapters of the Second World War. After the tour, I spend some extra time walking around Auschwitz II-Birkenau, taking in the scale of the camp and reflecting on everything I had seen throughout the day. Later, I continue on to Kraków, where I spend the evening exploring parts of the city’s historic Old Town. The next morning, I’m up early to catch a train, giving me a chance to wander through the quiet streets before most of the city has woken up. With the squares and alleyways largely empty, I get a different perspective of Kraków before continuing my journey onward to the next destination.