We arrived at the villa after a long walk on the boulevard, accompanied by thunderstorms. I really did not have high expectations of being able to enter the grounds and the villa – the photos I had seen showed a fence that was more than 2 meters high – but I was too curious not to pass by. Fortunately, there was an opening in the fence, which I could climb over with a little agility!
Raša Coal Mine 1928-1966 (HR)
Exploitation of coal in the Raša mine, as one of the mines in Raša coal basin, began in 1928. In Krapan, a settlement near Raša, mining started back in 1626, but only at the time of the Mussolini fascist era exploitation of coal in Raša mine experienced the real expansion. Raša coal basin employed more than 10,000 workers, and the coal basin was distributed to 30 floors with almost 400 km long branching transport corridors. Raša mine was closed in 1966, mainly due to the exhaustion of the site and the all-present crisis.
Ship Graveyard HAZ (NL) – Abandoned ships in a small town
This ship graveyard is at a small village, close to the Wadden Sea. The residents want to force a dyke breach to restore the connection between the sea and the village, in the hope tourist will find their forgotten town.
Read more and view images…Ship Graveyard HAZ (NL) – Abandoned ships in a small town
Učka Resort Hotel (HR) – Abandoned, completely trashed and left to rot.
The Učka Mountains used to be a popular excursion destination for tourists in Istria. Many tourists also spent a few days at Učka Resort Hotel to enjoy the surrounding nature park.
Read more and view images…Učka Resort Hotel (HR) – Abandoned, completely trashed and left to rot.
Coal Factory Tito (HR) – Abandoned coal mine transshipment facility
The Istrian coal mines, had by far the most important and economically the most valuable deposits of the anthracite coal reserves in Croatia since the 18th century until the year 1999, when their excavation and use in the coal-fired power plant Plomin ceased.
The coal is found within the Palaeocene Kozina limestone beds. Four coal basins, Karojba, Sveti Martin, Pićan, and the Labin basin, hosted seven coal mines, e.g. Tupljak, Potpićan, Kozljak, Štrmac, Raša, Ripenda, and Krapan. The coal has been generally known under the name of Raša coal.
Haludovo Palace Hotel (HR) – The Adriatic Palace of Sin
Meet Haludovo Palace, the original palace of sin and often called the most extravagant resort on the Adriatic ever.
Read more and view images…Haludovo Palace Hotel (HR) – The Adriatic Palace of Sin
Katarina Naval Base (HR) – A huge navy base in northern Croatia, abandoned at the time of the breakup of Yugoslavia in the early 1990s
On the northern side of Pula bay stretches out the former Naval Base Katarina, originally built as part of the Austro-Hungarian defence system of the city of Pula and further extended during Italian rule.
Hotel Ucka (HR) – The Dark Side of Croatia’s Tourism Boom
Located a bit further up Krk’s island coast from the famous Haludovo Palace, Hotel Ucka is a beautiful little hotel. Built in 1933 in the town of Omisalj, the pretty, faded, building had its own beach and boat launch.
Read more and view images…Hotel Ucka (HR) – The Dark Side of Croatia’s Tourism Boom
Black Cokes II (BE) – A desolate industrial site near the river Sambre
Once prosperous and influential due to mining and steel industry, now a city that looks gloomy and blows the last smoke out of the chimney of the remaining steel works.
Read more and view images…Black Cokes II (BE) – A desolate industrial site near the river Sambre