We will be driving from Hallstatt to Vienna in 2 weeks and I am very interested in stopping at Mauthausen for few hours. The reason why I would like to get input from you all is because we have our toddler with us.

Would it be nuts to go there with a 3 year old? The bad and the good part is that she is too young to really understand and won't even remember it.

Thanks for any help!

I would think it will be fine unless you have an extremely precocious little one asking pointed questions about what went on in place. It is part of history, a sad part but history indeed.

I haven't been to Mauthausen so am not sure what exactly you see there. I have been to Dachau several times and would not have wanted to tour it with a 3 year old asking questions about pictures in the museum, "what's this?" and generally being aware that adults were seeing something upsetting.

I know that when my son was in pre- school and saw a movie about India he picked up on a fleeting reference to a widow who had burned herself on her husband's funeral pyre.

I wouldn't do this tour with a toddler

Hi M,

Mauthausen won't have any effect on a 3-yr old.

The question is, "What effect will the 3-yr old have on the other visitors to Mauthausen?".

Ira,
I don't get it.

I wouldn't let my 3 year old watch a horror movie. Or should I, as I wouldn't have any effect?

And would effect could a child have on other visitors? Apart from the effect it will have on people anywhere.

Mauthausen is not a great detour from your drive to Vienna.
A large parking lot exists very close to the gate of the camp so access is easy.
Just outside the gate are various memorials and a view of the stone quarry where many prisoners worked.

This should have no effect on a very young child.

The only area that contains information and photos that could be a potential problem for a child are found in the museum.
You can see much without entering buildings.
If you still visit in May it should not be too busy and unles your child is screaming I do not see Him/her bothering people.
I have been there numerous times and sometimes see school groups , playing, running around and being loud - this can be offensive - a 3 yer old - does not seem a problem to me.
It is easily possible to tour the museum and other buildings if you wish while the other parent waits with the child.

I get what Ira is saying. As a Mom of 2, stepmom of 2 - I am very sensitive to bringing my children to places where they might affect others experiences - dining, movies, etc.

I have not been to Mauthausen or a concentration camp but have been researching for my fall trip and it is my understanding that most are very quiet, respectful, introspective to the surroundings and the ghosts of the past.

A three year old does not have the natural temperment to control themselves.

Would the child be able to be quiet and not intrude so to speak on others experience.

I believe that is what Ira was saying and I agree.

Mauthausen is well worth the visit--and your time there can be relatively short, in deference to your 3 year old. You can see quite a bit in an hour or so and it is more compact than Dachau, for example. And it is very well restored and maintained.

Jinx Hoover

I haven't been to this camp, but I did recently go to the Imperial War Museum in London which has a very well done Holocaust Exhibit. We left our almost 3 year old at home. Other people didn't. We watched as a child pointed to photographs of victims. The parents then tried to explain "they are just sleeping." I felt it was disrespectful to the victims of the Holocaust and the visitors of the museum. I also didn't know how the parents could appreciate the gravity of the exhibit while trying to keep their child quiet, entertained, not running around etc.

If this is something you feel you have to do I might try to find a way to have one parent go to the camp for an hour or two while the other parent finds a park and then switch.

We have a toddler and I completely understand your predicament. Good luck in this decision.

Thanks everyone.

As much as I don’t want my little one to get affected, I don’t want her to ruin it for other visitors either. If we decide to go, my husband and I will take turns to go to the camp while the other is outside with the child. If she is taking a nap when we get there, we might be able to go in together.