Natzweiler-Struthof concentration camp
Monument WWII Nazi concentration camp and memorial site in Alsace.
Natzweiler-Struthof in Alsace is a former Nazi concentration camp now preserved as a museum and memorial; visitors come to study wartime history, memorial exhibitions and the restored camp site.
Natzweiler-Struthof was a Nazi concentration camp established in 1941 on territory that is now part of France’s Grand Est region. It was run by the SS and used for forced labour, detention of political prisoners and other deported groups during World War II.
The camp complex included prisoner barracks, a small on-site crematorium and satellite labour camps; prisoners were deported from many parts of occupied Europe. After the war the site was preserved and later developed into a memorial and museum documenting the camp’s history and commemorating victims.
The memorial today contains preserved foundations, interpretive exhibits and a cemetery for victims; guided visits and educational programmes are available to explain the chronology and the individual stories of those detained there. The site is a principal location for remembrance and research into Nazi crimes in Western Europe.
The camp is located in the Vosges foothills of northeastern France near the village of Natzwiller, within Grand Est; it sits inland from the Rhine plain, accessible by regional roads from nearby towns and cities.
- Memorial status: Established by the SS during World War II on present-day French territory, the site now serves as a national memorial and museum documenting forced labour, medical experiments and the camp system in Western Europe.
What to See #
- Camp remains and site: The preserved camp grounds and foundation ruins where barracks, watchtowers and prisoner blocks stood during the camp's operation in the 1940s.
- Museum and memorial: An on-site museum and memorial complex that documents the camp's history, victim lists and archaeological findings, with a visitor centre at the entrance to the memorial area.
How to Get to Natzweiler-Struthof concentration camp #
The Natzweiler‑Struthof memorial (Natzwiller, Grand Est) is reached by road from Strasbourg or Colmar. By car take the A35 corridor south from Strasbourg then regional/D roads toward Natzwiller - the drive from Strasbourg is roughly 45-70 km depending on route (about an hour). Regional trains reach larger towns such as Sélestat or Rothau; from those towns local buses or taxis cover the short final distance to the memorial (check current TER and regional bus timetables).
Tips for Visiting Natzweiler-Struthof concentration camp #
- Start your visit to Natzweiler‑Struthof at the on-site museum and visitor center to get historical context before walking the outdoor memorials and ruins.
- Visit early in the morning or on a weekday to avoid coach-group crowds and to allow time for quiet reflection at the crematorium ruins and memorials.
- Check the site's official website for opening hours, guided-tour times and any temporary exhibitions-many visitors skip the modern contextual exhibitions in the museum, which provide essential background to the outdoor site.
Best Time to Visit Natzweiler-Struthof concentration camp #
For a more reflective visit to Natzweiler‑Struthof and its museum, choose shoulder seasons (Apr-Jun or Sep-Oct) or weekday mornings to avoid peak tourist groups and school visits.
Weather & Climate near Natzweiler-Struthof concentration camp #
Natzweiler-Struthof concentration camp's climate is classified as Oceanic - Oceanic climate with mild summers (peaking in July) and freezing winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from -3°C to 20°C. Abundant rainfall (1250 mm/year), wettest in December, distributed fairly evenly throughout the year.
January
January is the coldest month with highs of 2°C and lows of -3°C. Significant rainfall (104 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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February
February is freezing with highs of 2°C and lows of -3°C. Regular rainfall (99 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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March
March is cold with highs of 6°C and lows of 0°C. Regular rainfall (93 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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April
April is cold with highs of 9°C and lows of 2°C. Regular rainfall (88 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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May
May is cool with highs of 14°C and lows of 6°C. Significant rainfall (115 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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June
June is cool with highs of 17°C and lows of 9°C. Significant rainfall (113 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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July
July is cool with highs of 20°C and lows of 11°C. Significant rainfall (104 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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August
August is cool with highs of 20°C and lows of 11°C. Regular rainfall (87 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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September
September is cool with highs of 16°C and lows of 8°C. Regular rainfall (94 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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October
October is cold with highs of 11°C and lows of 5°C. Significant rainfall (109 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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November
November is cold with highs of 5°C and lows of 0°C. Significant rainfall (116 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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December
December is cold with highs of 3°C and lows of -2°C. The wettest month with heavy rain (128 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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