What Are Stolpersteine?
Stolpersteine are small, hand-engraved brass plaques set into pavements throughout Europe. Initiated by artist Gunter Demnig in the early 1990s, each Stolperstein commemorates a victim of Nazi persecution—Jews, Sinti and Roma, disabled individuals, political dissidents, LGBTQ+ people, and others—by marking the last voluntarily chosen residence with a personal inscription. The project is now the world’s largest decentralized Holocaust memorial, with over 100,000 stones installed in 21 countries (Stolpersteine website; Germany.info).
Visiting the Stolpersteine in Mainz
Location and How to Find Them
Stolpersteine are integrated into the sidewalks of Mainz’s neighborhoods, especially in Hechtsheim. The Stolperstein for Antonie Selig is located at Bürgermeister-Keim-Straße 2 (Beer-Mainz). Visitors can use interactive maps and local databases to plan self-guided walks, or join guided tours that explain the significance of each memorial.
Accessibility and Visitor Tips
- Accessibility Stolpersteine are set at ground level and may require bending or kneeling to read. The locations are generally wheelchair accessible, but those with mobility challenges should be aware of pavement conditions.
- Best Time to Visit Daylight hours provide optimal visibility for reading inscriptions and taking photos.
- Travel Prep Comfortable walking shoes are recommended. Mainz’s public transport makes it easy to reach Hechtsheim and other districts with Stolpersteine.
Special Events and Guided Tours
Local organizations and historical societies occasionally offer guided tours focusing on Stolpersteine and Mainz’s Jewish history. These tours include the Antonie Selig stone and provide in-depth context. For schedules, check Mainz’s tourism portal or local visitor centers.
Historical Significance of the Stolpersteine Project
The Stolpersteine project personalizes history by restoring names and stories to victims erased by the Nazi regime. The memorials transform ordinary sidewalks into sites of memory, fostering reflection and dialogue about the Holocaust’s human impact (Fabrizio Musacchio).
About the Antonie Selig Memorial
Historical Background: The Life of Antonie Selig
Antonie Selig (née Kahn) was born in 1874 in Büdesheim, Germany. She married Siegfried Josef Selig, joining a family with deep roots in the Hechtsheim Jewish community. The Seligs were respected local traders. The rise of the Nazi regime in 1933 brought increasing restrictions and violence; their home was destroyed during Kristallnacht in 1938. While their daughter Emma managed to escape to the Netherlands, Antonie and Siegfried were forced to remain. Both were deported on March 20, 1942, from Mainz to the Piaski ghetto in occupied Poland, and were most likely murdered in Sobibór extermination camp soon after (Alemannia Judaica PDF, p. 5; Beer-Mainz).
Location and Description of the Stolperstein for Antonie Selig
The Stolperstein for Antonie Selig is embedded in the pavement at Bürgermeister-Keim-Straße 2, Mainz-Hechtsheim (Wikipedia: Stolpersteine in Mainz-Hechtsheim). Each Stolperstein is a 10 x 10 cm concrete block topped with a hand-engraved brass plate. The inscription reads (in German):
HIER WOHNTE
ANTONIE SELIG
GEB. KAHN
JG. 1878
DEPORTIERT 1942
ERMORDET IN SOBIBÓR
Translated:
HERE LIVED
ANTONIE SELIG
NÉE KAHN
BORN 1878
DEPORTED 1942
MURDERED IN SOBIBÓR
The memorial was installed in a public ceremony in June 2013 (Alemannia Judaica PDF, p. 0).
Historical and Cultural Context
Mainz-Hechtsheim was once home to a vibrant Jewish community, almost entirely destroyed during the Holocaust. The placement of Stolpersteine here reconnects the city with its lost residents and brings personal stories back to the streets they once walked (Mainz.de). Each stone is a silent reminder of lives interrupted, families destroyed, and the importance of remembrance.
Visitor Information and Travel Tips
- Visiting Hours Stolpersteine are accessible 24/7 at no cost.
- How to Get There Mainz-Hechtsheim is reachable via public transport from the city center. Bürgermeister-Keim-Straße is a quiet residential street.
- Nearby Sites Explore Mainz Cathedral, the Gutenberg Museum, the Jewish Museum of Mainz, and additional Stolpersteine memorials for broader historical context.
- Guided Tours Check with local organizations or use audio guides via the Audiala app for deeper engagement with Mainz’s Jewish history.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Is there a fee or ticket required to visit the Stolperstein for Antonie Selig?
A: No. Stolpersteine are public memorials, free to visit at any time.
Q: Where exactly is the Stolperstein for Antonie Selig?
A: On the sidewalk at Bürgermeister-Keim-Straße 2, Mainz-Hechtsheim.
Q: Are guided tours available?
A: Yes. Local organizations offer guided tours that include Stolpersteine and Jewish history in Mainz. See Mainz tourism for details.
Q: Can I take photos?
A: Yes, photography is encouraged for personal remembrance.
Q: Are Stolpersteine accessible to visitors with disabilities?
A: Most are, as they are located in public spaces, but some pavement surfaces may be uneven.
