Shoes on the Danube Bank, Budapest

The Shoes on the Danube Bank is a poignant and powerful memorial in Budapest, Hungary, that pays tribute to the victims of the Holocaust. Situated on the east bank of the Danube River, this haunting monument consists of 60 pairs of 1940s-style shoes cast in iron and anchored to the embankment.

This evocative installation commemorates the Jewish victims who were executed by the Arrow Cross militiamen during World War II. The victims were ordered to remove their shoes before being shot at the edge of the river, their bodies falling into the water and being swept away. The array of shoes, which includes men's, women's, and children's footwear, represents the diverse group of individuals who suffered this tragic fate.

The Shoes on the Danube Bank was conceptualized by film director Can Togay and brought to life by sculptor Gyula Pauer in 2005. It serves as a somber reminder of the atrocities of the Holocaust and the lives lost during that dark period in history.

Visitors to Budapest can find the memorial on the Pest side of the Danube Promenade, just south of the Hungarian Parliament Building and near the Academy of Sciences. The site is accessible at any time and there is no admission fee, making it a must-visit location for those wishing to pay their respects and reflect on the impact of historical events.