Jewish ghettos and concentration camps

Having a meal at this wonderful old hotel (built in 1176, just a couple of years before Felsted churuch!), we got chatting to a young family, and the wife (in her mid 30's) grew up here in the town of Opoczno, which we will be cycling thru tomorrow.

There were many towns here that had Jewish quarters, and in 1940 a Jewish ghetto was formed and many thousands crammed into that area before all being murdered.

She told us that, as a consequence of the communist era, such history was hidden and her visits to the cinema as a child were actually in what used to be the old synagogue. Only in recent years are the local populations rediscovering their own history, and starting only now, to establish memorials to all those who died.

Very poignant story. Garry & Liz will be returning to the UK in a few days, but plan to see some of that part of Poland's past by visiting Auchwitz and possibly Schindler's factory.... a dark part of our trip