They frighten, fascinate or impress... In any case, these abandoned sites all over the world do not leave one indifferent! They take us off the beaten track, to discover places still frozen in time. Deserted by man for several years, these places all have a story to tell and are today the favourite playground of adventurous visitors and the best photographers. Indeed, when nature regains its rights, it offers spectacular images! Petit Futé gives you his classification of the 10 abandoned sites that cannot be ignored... Thrills guaranteed!
Pripyat - Ukraine
After the Chernobyl disaster in 1986, people in and around the city were forced to abandon their homes. Behind them, they left the remains of a lifetime. Pripiat, on the outskirts of Chernobyl, was particularly badly affected by radiation and was evacuated in a hurry the day after the disaster. Even today, the city is still considered dangerous and it is forbidden to enter it. Artists still visit the city frequently and take spectacular photographs. The houses are empty, the beds are undone, the food is still on the tables... In Pripiat, time is frozen and you get shivers!
Craco - Italy
Craco is a medieval city located in the region of Basilicata, Italy. It is known in particular for having been the setting for many films such as The Passion of the Christ by Mel Gibson. Today Craco is a ghost town. The instability of the terrain, which is very common in this area of the peninsula, has led the inhabitants to desert it. Today this place fascinates... A large number of visitors would have detected there paranormal presences. Walking through the labyrinthine streets, one would hear strange voices, mysterious cries... Luminous forms would even move from one dwelling to another. It's enough to give you goose bumps!
Beelitz - Germany
Beelitz, located in the Brandenburg region of Germany, is best known for its hospital. A small peculiarity: it has been completely abandoned since 1995. Built at the end of the 19th century to accommodate the many patients suffering from tuberculosis, this sanatorium was transformed into a military hospital during the Great War. Adolf Hitler stayed there in 1916 for a broken leg during the Battle of the Somme. Today, the ruins of the Beelitz hospital are the setting for many films such as Polanski's The Pianist. Photographers also take great pleasure in immortalizing this anguishing and fascinating place. And you, would you dare to enter it?
Belchite - Spain
Belchite, located a few kilometres from Zaragoza, is a poignant testimony to the horror of the Spanish Civil War. Throughout the conflict, Belchite was conquered and then re-conquered in multiple battles between nationalists and republicans. On April 1, 1939, at the end of the war, a totally destroyed and deserted city rose up. The new dictator of the time, Franco, expelled the last inhabitants and decided to preserve the ruins of the site to make it a symbol of war. Today, Belchite is open to the public and guided tours are organized.
Kolmanskop - Namibia
Kolmanskop is now a popular destination in Namibia. A ghost town, completely covered by sand, it was nevertheless a true Eldorado at the beginning of the 20th century. It was indeed built in 1908 after the discovery by a worker of a diamond on its site. In order to make the best use of this ore, the German colonists had then built a real modern city with a hospital and even a casino. However, when the price of diamonds fell after the First World War, the town was deserted. Since then, nature has regained its rights and the sand of the Namibian desert is burying more and more of the remains of Kolmanskop every day... To be discovered before it's too late!
Angkor Wat - Cambodia
If there is one abandoned site not to be missed, it is certainly the temple of Angkor Wat! It is the largest temple of the Angkor complex in Cambodia. Built in the twelfth century by Suryavarman II to honor the deity Vishnu, it is extremely well preserved but nature has regained its rights. Roots and trunks have formed spectacular buildings and the monument is covered by vegetation. Today, Angkor Wat is classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is one of the most visited sites in Cambodia. An unmissable during a stay in the country!
Bodie - United States
Bodie, California, is one of the most famous ghost towns. Built during the gold rush era, it had all the advantages of a big city: banks, railroad, saloon... And a very high crime rate! The expression "bad man from Bodie" was widespread. After a fire that ravaged its town centre and especially at the time of the gold crisis, Bodie was abandoned. Today, one can visit its deserted streets and especially the inside of the buildings where time stood still... There are several ghost towns in California but Bodie is certainly the best preserved!
Church of Curon Venosta - Italy
Curon Venosta is located in Italy, in the Trentino Alto-Adige region. This village was rebuilt in 1950 in the heights. In fact, the historical village was submerged during the construction of the artificial lake of Resia ... The whole historic village, yes, except for an irreducible bell tower that rises up out of the water! The rest of the church is now abandoned in the depths... This peculiarity attracts many visitors who come to admire this symbol of the village's resistance. In winter, when the lake freezes, the bell tower is accessible on foot. And even if the bells have been removed, a legend says that they can still be heard when the cold weather strikes.
Porte des Lilas Cinema - France
The Parisian metro network is a veritable maze, as we know. But did you know that there are many ghost stations? Built during line projects that were eventually aborted, they are now unused and generally remain unknown to the general public. The "Porte des Lilas - Cinema" station is however an exception. Disused since the closure of the shuttle track linking lines 3bis and 7bis, it is now being refurbished. It is indeed this metro station which is generally rented by film or advertising directors. Now you know that the station Abbesses du Fabuleux Destin d'Amélie Poulain is in fact "Porte des Lilas"!
The Tunnel of Love - Ukraine
Let's finish with a touch of romance! An abandoned railway line in Klevan in northwestern Ukraine has become a favorite place for lovers to walk. Here nature has completely regained its rights and the dense vegetation has formed a green tunnel through the forest. This tunnel was built without any human intervention and would have been formed by the passage of freight cars when the railway was still in use. On sunny days, the rays of light bring an extra touch of enchantment to this unusual place. A beautiful place to discover in spring and worthy of a fairy tale!
