Shoes on the Danube Bank Guide
A Silent Memorial: Shoes on the Danube Bank Guide
The Shoes on the Danube Bank is a deeply moving and poignant memorial in Budapest, commemorating the Jewish victims who were murdered by the Arrow Cross militiamen during World War II. This simple yet powerful installation consists of sixty pairs of iron shoes, sculpted in the style of the 1940s, placed along the riverbank. It serves as a haunting reminder of the atrocities committed and a tribute to the lives lost. During the winter of 1944-45, the Arrow Cross, the Hungarian Nazi party, systematically murdered thousands of Jews along the Danube. Victims were ordered to remove their shoes, a valuable commodity at the time, before being shot and pushed into the river. The memorial, created by sculptor Gyula Pauer and film director Can Togay, was inaugurated in 2005 to honor the victims and provide a place for remembrance. Visitors can walk along the riverbank and observe the shoes, each pair representing a life cut short. Many people leave flowers, candles, and stones as a sign of respect. The memorial is particularly evocative at sunset, when the light reflects off the iron shoes and the Danube. While there is no specific culinary tradition associated with the site, the area along the Danube is filled with restaurants and cafes offering a wide range of Hungarian and international cuisine. The Shoes on the Danube Bank is a powerful and unforgettable experience, a testament to the resilience of the human spirit in the face of unimaginable cruelty.
Transportation
The memorial is located along the Pest side of the Danube River, between the Chain Bridge and the Margaret Bridge. You can easily reach it by tram 2, which stops nearby. Alternatively, you can take the M2 metro line to Kossuth Lajos tér and walk towards the river.