A 1937 fairground used by Nazi occupiers as the Sajmište concentration camp from 1941 to 1944; a memorial and the Tower stand on the left bank of the Sava.
The Old Fairground, Staro Sajmište, lies on the left bank of the Sava in Novi Beograd, Belgrade, Serbia, at Bulevar vojvode Mišića. It was built in 1937 as a modern exhibition ground for the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, with pavilions arranged around a central tower, and was opened as an international fair site. After the German invasion of April 1941 the area fell within the Independent State of Croatia on the opposite bank, and the German occupation authorities in Serbia used the fairground as the Judenlager Semlin, a camp for Jews from Belgrade and the surrounding area. From the end of 1941 it was a detention site, and by the spring of 1942 most of the Jewish prisoners, mainly women, children and the elderly, had been killed using a gas van.
From May 1942 the site was used as the Anhaltelager Semlin, a camp holding Serb, Roma and other prisoners, including many from the Kozara region, as well as political prisoners. Tens of thousands of people passed through the camp, and many thousands died of hunger, cold, disease, shooting and other mistreatment before it was closed in 1944. The area was bombed by the Allies in 1944 and later reused, with artists' studios and businesses occupying some of the buildings.
The remains include the Central Tower, a few pavilions and the former Croatian and Hungarian pavilions, in a modernist style typical of the 1930s. A memorial monument, the Monument to the Victims of Fascism, stands on the grounds, and the area has been protected as a cultural monument. The interpretation is documentary and commemorative rather than curated as a single museum, with exhibitions and memorial events arranged by the city and the Museum of Genocide Victims. Many buildings are in poor condition or still occupied by tenants, and restoration has been slow and debated. The site is free to visit and accessible at any time, while exhibitions run by schedule. It is a solemn place that calls for respectful behaviour.
| Admission | Free |
|---|---|
| Hours | Memorial site accessible daily; exhibition by schedule |
| Address | Bulevar vojvode Mišića 9, 11070 Belgrade, Serbia |
Why it matters
The Old Fairground was turned by the German occupation into the Sajmište concentration camp, where thousands of Jews, Roma and Serbs were imprisoned and many were killed between 1941 and 1944. It is the principal site of Holocaust memory in Belgrade.
Location
Bulevar vojvode Mišića 9, 11070 Belgrade, Serbia
44.8108, 20.4360 View on map
Highlights
- Surviving 1937 Central Tower of the fairground
- Memorial to victims of the Sajmište camp, 1941-1944
- Modernist pavilions from the interwar period
- Riverbank location opposite the Belgrade Fortress
Tips for visiting
- Approach with respect; this is a site of mass killing.
- Check ahead for scheduled exhibitions, as access to the tower may be limited.
- Combine with a walk along the Sava quay toward Kalemegdan.
- Bring a map, as signage is limited.
When to visit
Daytime visits in dry weather are best. Remembrance dates, such as Holocaust remembrance days, include commemorative events.
Accessibility
The grounds are mostly flat and paved in places, but surfaces are uneven and many buildings are not open to the public.
Visit, book or contact
Frequently asked questions
What happened at Sajmište?
Under German occupation from 1941 to 1944 the fairground became a concentration camp where Jews, Serbs, Roma and others were imprisoned and many were killed.
Is the memorial free?
Yes. The grounds are open at any time, and exhibitions follow a schedule.
Is it suitable for children?
The subject is heavy, so it is better suited to older children and teenagers.