architecture

Casa Riposo S

Near the end of the 1870’s an industrialist built a luxurious villa in the mountains near a small community. The villa was surrounded by a beautiful botanical parc and had a stunning central hall with a skylight.

Today, the large building remains empty. In the later-built wings many of the rooms are the same. By now, many windows have been smashed by vandals who found their way onto the secluded premises and in one wing we found traces of a fire. Only the main entrance and central hall remind of the once glorious villa and were worth photographing. Read More

Castello Neogotico

Located on a island, this neogotic castle was built. An already present church and monastery were merged into the new build of which construction began in the 1880’s. It got built as summer residency for a politician and was dedicated to his wife.

The castle, whose territory occupies about 1/5th of the island, was very luxuriously furnished and housed numerous collections including art, weapons, coins and antiques. Read More

Convento dei Morti

The Convento dei Morti is an abandoned monastery from the 15th century. The courtyard is surrounded by open galleries which are decorated with frescoes from religious caracters and coats of arms of the local noble families. In one of the galleries we found two old hearses. Read More

Teatro Balconi

This is presumably Italy’s most famous abandoned theatre. The beautifully decorated interior with red private viewing boxes and the slowly collapsing balcony make this a popular destination among urban explorers.
This historical theatre, built in the mid-19th century is a beautiful piece of art. There was room for over 300 visitors. On both sides of the stage there were VIP-boxes for the wealthy visitors who wanted the best view. Next to the VIP-boxes there were three layers of private boxes and opposite of the stage there was a balcony which offered space for about 50 spectators. Read More

Château des Démons

The unique exterior of this château features statues of dogs with wings and dragons are overlooking the premises from the tower. The interior is well decorated and worth showing as well. On the ground floor there’s a big fireplace surrounded by beautiful woodwork and in the hallway the walls are decorated with tiles showing all kinds of animals. Read More

Bureau d’Or

The Bureau d’Or was built near the end of the 19th century and got expanded around the 1930’s in a 17th century style to match the château nextdoor. It served as the administration building for the adjecent blast furnace. Read More

Manicomio di R

In the 1870’s Manicomio di R was built. At the time, it was a small charity hospital and over the years it was expanded and transformed into a mental asylum which at its peak moment housed 1800 patients.
In those manicomio’s the most cruel therapies were used to “cure” patients. From electroshock therapy to all kinds of new and experimental surgery on the nervous system. Read More

Château LTD

In the 1860’s construction of this château started. It was built for a marquis and designed by an architect who went to a French art school. This architect also designed several other buildings in the same, unique style. The château in Renaissance style is very richly decorated with beautiful patterns in brick and amazing stucco. Unfortunately, due to a fire in the 1930’s the château was destroyed and never rebuilt, only the outer walls are still standing. Read More

Palazzo G

This historical villa is centuries old. Originally it used to be a castle, which has been extensively renovated several times to what it is today under the different ownerships it had. Read More

Château des Pierres Volées

It is said that in the 12th century a count built a château here. It was reconstructed a few centuries later. Over the years (and due to the French Revolution) it turned into a ruin. Near the end of the 18th century it was sold to some local farmers which tore down some of the walls and used the stones to construct their farmstead. Read More

Château Pentagon

Château Pentagon is a French château, built in the 14th century with various parts being added until the 17th century. During renovations the facades were redecorated in neo-Gothic style giving the château its current appearance. Read More

Centrale Idroelettrica V

This hydroelectric power station was built in the 1910’s to supply power to the chemical plant on the premises. The power station consisted of seven Francis turbines that together produced almost 200 million kWh of electricity per year.

During the Second World War the station was damaged heavily. After restorations the capacity was reduced by 30%. In the 70’s the power station was replaced by a new power station. Copper thieves then looted the abandoned site and took everything valuable. Read More

Château des Singes

Somewhere in the French countryside in a small village lies this vacated château. It was built in the 17th century and has quite an unique design. Featuring a beautiful entry hall with a stunning staircase and well-decorated rooms, this famous abandoned château attracts urbexers from all over Europe. Read More

Steampunk Hydro Power Plant

In the early 20th century a paper mill was built. A small hydroelectric powerplant with two turbines was added to provide power. The paper mill and powerplant were active until the 1950’s.

The powerplant has a beautiful control panel made of (what looks like) marble plates with nicely decorated instruments. The back of the control panel has been gutted entirely but for the rest there were no traces of vandalism of any kind. Read More

Ateliers Centraux

In 1937 the nearby steelmill put these big halls in use. The building was used for their repair workshops, spare parts stock, offices and archives. In the workshop repairs and overhauls were carried out, but they had to build full machinery for the steel mill in here too.

From the 1990’s there was a decline in work at the site and several departments closed. Only the general warehouse, design office and wagon halls were active in 2005. When the last steelmill in the city closed down, the Ateliers Centraux closed its doors as well. Read More

Alla Italia

Already in the 16th century, Spa was know for its naturally iron bearing and carbonated water. The first public bathhouse was opened in 1828 and in 1841 the second opened it’s doors. In 1862, architect Léon Suys was instructed to build the third bathhouse for the city of Spa, Belgium. The cost price for this project was 1,5 million Belgian francs and it was finished and opened in 1868. Read More

Château de la Couronne

This neoclassical style château was built in the 19th century. It got renovated in the 90’s, but only two weeks after the renovations it burnt to the ground.

The former grandeur is still visible from the outside and among the collapsed rooms you can still find beautifully decorated fireplaces and stairwells. Read More