Set beside the Sava riverbank some 100km southeast of Zagreb, Jasenovac was the biggest in an archipelago of concentration camps designed to imprison, torture and murder those considered undesirable by Croatia’s World-War-II rulers. It was run by the Ustaše, local quislings who came to power when Nazi Germany invaded the then Kingdom of Yugoslavia in April 1941. Somewhere between 80,000 and 100,000 Serbs, Roma, Jews and antifascist Croats were killed at Jasenovac; many others passed through the camp and survived, ensuring that the horrors that took place here are well documented.

Much of the site was levelled after World War II, leaving open grassland traversed by memorial paths. Main focus of remembrance is the Stone Flower, a stunning semi-abstract monument designed by architect Bogdan Bogdanović in 1965, and intended to symbolise future hope as well as grief for the camp’s victims. A museum near the entrance contains a powerful and moving display, with photos and video recordings of survivor-interviews helping to restore dignity to the individuals who suffered here.

Practical Info

March 1 - November 30: Monday - Friday 09:00 - 17:00; Saturday and Sunday 10:00 - 16:00 December 1 - February 28: Monday - Friday 09:00 -16:00

By car: Jasenovac is 1hr 20 min southeast of Zagreb, taking the A3/E70 motorway to the Novska/Jasenovac exit.

By train: Jasenovac is accessible as a day trip from Zagreb by train providing you study the timetable carefully in advance - there’s only a handful of services in either direction (either direct or with a change at Sunj), taking 2hr-2hr30min.

Jasenovac Memorial Centre