Stone Flower

Stone Flower (Kameni cvijet) is a concrete monument in Jasenovac, Croatia, standing on the grounds of the former Jasenovac concentration camp. It was unveiled in 1966 and designed by the Yugoslav architect Bogdan Bogdanović. It is among the best-known memorial sculptures in this part of Europe.

What is the Stone Flower?

It is a monumental sculpture in the shape of a flower: a slender central column that opens upward into petals. According to its author, the petals open toward the sky and the sun, expressing faith in life and rebirth. The monument honors the victims of the camp that was run during the Second World War by the authorities of the Independent State of Croatia (the Ustaša regime).

What does it look like?

The structure rests on a base with six niches. From it rises a column that blossoms into the flower. Beneath the sculpture lies a crypt paved with railway sleepers, a nod to the rail transports that brought prisoners to the camp. The flower's "roots" are open, so visitors can walk underneath and see a group of plaques.

Where is it?

The monument dominates the area of former Camp III, known as the Ciglana (the brickworks). Bogdanović designed the entire memorial site, not only the sculpture. The landscaping was finished in 1966 and the monument was officially dedicated on 4 July of that year. A museum joined the complex roughly two years later. Visitor accounts describe the monument standing in an open field near a lake that formed as a result of the prisoners' forced labor.

Contested memory

The monument took many years to realize, mainly because of disputes between the Croatian far right and Jewish, Serbian and Croat anti-fascist organizations. The annual commemorations have also become flashpoints for these conflicts. Sources give different figures for the number of people who died in the camp, ranging from hundreds of thousands to higher estimates, and the exact toll remains debated.

About the architect

Bogdanović considered the Stone Flower his favorite monument. In 2004 he donated several hundred of his drawings for the sculpture to the memorial. Renovation of the central monument began in July 2003, and he later accompanied the Croatian prime minister when it was completed.

Frequently asked questions

Who designed the Stone Flower? Bogdan Bogdanović, who also planned the whole memorial site.

When was it built? It was completed in 1966; official information says it was dedicated on 4 July.

What does the flower symbolize? According to its author, faith in life and rebirth, with petals opening toward the sky and the sun.

Can you go inside? Yes, the flower's "roots" are open and plaques are displayed beneath the monument.

How should I prepare for a visit? This is a place of remembrance for victims of war, so it calls for quiet respect. Check the opening hours on the official Jasenovac Memorial Site page before you travel.