On 15 and 16 June 2025, students from the College of Europe in Natolin undertook a two-day extracurricular educational visit to the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum in Oświęcim. Organised as part of the Auschwitz-Birkenau Educational Project within the framework of Natolin’s overarching "Borderlands" theme, the visit offered a powerful opportunity to engage directly with the legacy of one of the most tragic sites in European history.
The programme began with a guided visit to the grounds of Auschwitz I, including rare access to the so-called "reserve" blocks 2 and 3. Preserved in their original state since the liberation of the camp, these blocks were not open to the general public and provided a unique historical perspective for selected educational groups. The first day also included a presentation at the Collections Department by Mr Łukasz JANIGA, who introduced the group to a selection of historical artefacts preserved at the Museum that are not part of the main exhibition. The day concluded with a discussion led by Mr Paweł SAWICKI (Press Office of the Museum) on the media policy challenges faced by institutions tasked with communicating the legacy of Auschwitz-Birkenau in a public sphere increasingly marked by polarisation and disinformation.
On the second day, students took part in a guided visit to Auschwitz II–Birkenau, further deepening their understanding of the camp’s structure and historical context by following an extended itinerary that goes far beyond the standard visit route.
In the afternoon, Mr Kamil BĘDKOWSKI (Preservation Department) delivered a presentation on the use of new technologies in the documentation and conservation work undertaken at the Museum, offering insights into the innovative methods employed, fascinating discoveries made, and the international cooperation underpinning these efforts.
This study visit was intended not only to confront the historical reality of the Holocaust, but also to highlight the contemporary responsibilities of remembrance, communication, and preservation of the emblematic relics of history.