While on a short vacation in the Eifel area in Germany I found this place on the map and it seemed interesting enough to go for an explore. After I parked the car I walked down the forest path and after about ten minutes I saw the abandoned buildings looming in the forest.
Germany Urbex
Germany is a vast playground for urban explorers. Abandoned World War II bunkers, deserted factories, and vacated hospitals stand as solemn monuments of its history. The juxtaposition of a fast-paced modern society against the backdrop of these quietly decaying structures creates compelling imagery and narratives, making Germany a remarkable urbex destination.
Top 5 Germany Urbex locations:
- Landscape Park Duisburg (DE)
- Gasthaus Eden (DE)
- Gasthaus Whisky (DE)
- Kinderkurheim Ruhla (DE)
- Sanatorium Hohentanneck (DE)
Freibad Diana – A former forest swimming pool with a small bar
I visited this place in spring, when nature, surrounding this forest swimming pool, was awakening. It must have been a wonderful place to swim, soak up the sun on the sunbathing area next to the pools and have a beer at the bar.
Kinderkurheim Ruhla 🇩🇪 – Abandoned sanatorium for children
The Ruhla children’s sanatorium, for children in the age of 4-12 years old, was a modern, very well equipped sanatorium in the 70’s and 80’s. A sauna, solarium, in-house playground and a pool are just some of the features the property had to offer.
Kurhotel Fürstenhof 🇩🇪 – Where Adolf Hitler gave an election speech in 1932
I visited this former luxury hotel during a holiday in Germany. I had previously seen pictures of the beautiful ballroom, where 𝐀𝐝𝐨𝐥𝐟 𝐇𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐫 gave an election speech in 1932, and therefore I was very curious to see if I could enter the building.
Alter Friedhof Bach 🇩🇪 – Numerous members of the Bach family are buried in this old abandoned cemetery
This old abandoned cemetery is 0.75 hectares in size and is located on the Schlossberg, near the path to the Wartburg. It was laid out in 1599 by Duke Johann Ernst as a graveyard outside the city wall of Eisenach to the west of the preacher’s gate.
Jagdschloss Hohe Sonne 🇩🇪
Duke Johann Wilhelm von Sachsen-Eisenach had a large zoo set up as a hunting facility. An entrance to this zoo was located at the site of today’s Hohe Sonne. To protect the zoo from poachers, the hunter’s house, built in 1747, was next to the gate.
Gasthaus Eden 🇩🇪 – Abandoned hotel in the Harz, back to the 70’s
To get in, fellow explorer Twan and I had to quickly climb in through a window at the back, because the hotel next door was being renovated. So construction workers were busy a few meters away, but because of our experience they obviously did not see us.
Erholungsheim Hermann Duncker 🇩🇪 – an abandoned retirement home in the Harz mountains
During the return trip from a short holiday in the Harz Mountains last summer, we took a short break for this beautiful location. We were dropped by our fellow explorer Lia, who then looked for a strategic place to keep an eye on things. Twan and I were able to stretch our legs for a while in this large building, where the great decline started a long time ago. With some crumbled ceilings and stairs that are not completely reliable, a great challenge!
Gasthaus Whisky 🇩🇪 – Holiday in the Harz mountains
During our short summer holiday in the Harz we visited some abandoned gasthauser. A gasthaus is a German-style inn or tavern, with a bar, a restaurant, banquet facilities and hotel rooms for rent.