Save Schindler’s Ark

The Museum of Survivors opened in May 2025 to mark 80 years since the end of World War 2 and when the ring was given to Oskar Schindler here inscribed with “Whoever Saves a Life, Saves the World entire”

President Petr Pavel visits the museum

The overall goal is to save Schindler’s Ark to form a Museum of Survivors in the heart of Europe. Schindler’s Ark was a concentration camp where 1200 Jews on Schindler’s List were saved, as shown in the film by Steven Spielberg.

Schindler’s Ark was stolen by the Nazis from the Low-Beer family in 1938. The Low-Beer family consolidated the ruined factory in 2020-22 and in partnership with the local community formed the Arks Foundation.

This Museum leverages the refurbishment of the huge, beautiful, textile hall, to equip it as a museum of survivors. It implements testimony, iWALK and permanent place-based learning in the unique place where the events occurred to reach the expected 10-20,000 visitors per year.

The site

The authentic, material evidence of the former concentration camp is largely intact as it was in the 1940s, including the original concentration camp gate, Schindler’s Office, the SS building, Emilie Schindler’s Clinic, the square where the ring was given, and the unique, large building where the Jews lived and worked, Schindler’s Ark.

As an introduction to the site, you can access the iWALK APP to hear the testimonies of survivors describing the events which take place here in their own words - download the app from your phone’s appstore (iWalk, Shoah Foundation, Czech Republic, Schindler’s Ark) - English, German, Hungarian or Czech.

ACCESS SCHINDLER’s ARK - from its railway station of Březová nad Svitavou on the express route from Brno (45 mins), Prague (2h15), Vienna (2h30) and Krakow (3h30). Prague or Vienna Airport.

Experience history, the film and the lives of survivors in the place where the events occurred. Follow the 1-2 hour visit:
30-minute outside tour of the authentic buildings of Schindler’s Ark where the ring was given to Oskar Schindler inscribed with “whoever saves a life, saves the world entire”, the gate of freedom, the SS building, Schindler’s Ark, the unique concentration camp that saved lives.
20-minute film on Schindler’s Ark in the Museum’s theatre, of the historical events, survivor testimonies, scenes from the film where they occurred, and the story of Schindler’s Ark.
Before, During and After the War, a 30 minute audio-visual exhibition
Survivors in their own words and Survivors’ Art exhibition “Starting at Zero”

Projects

The Museum of Survivors is co-designed with school students from 5 countries and opened in 2025 to mark 80 years since the end of World War 2. Young architects from 110 countries contribute to the design under the Inspireli award founded by Vaclav Havel.

This project leverages the refurbishment of the beautiful, textile hall, to equip it as a museum of survivors.

The objectives of the project are the following:

1. New hybrid digital and place-based media facilities equipped for the museum - A. 6 permanent testimony activities and interactive testimony developed, implemented and installed to reach 10-20,000 visitors p.a.

2. Exhibition "Starting from Zero" developed to travel to 3 European countries combining place-based, digital and school outreach learning.

3. Lifelong learning and new testimony and activities developed - with regular commumity, school and visitor events

Learn More on Current Projects

History

Schindler’s Ark represents a universal story of how an individual can stand up to discrimination. It is a museum of survivors. Learn about the history of this unique place in the very centre of Europe.

Learn More on history