The second abandoned spot we explored on the fifth day of our 2020 summer vacation had a history stretching back more than a century. The red brick building was originally constructed in the early 1900s as a monastery. During World War II, it was seized and converted into a military hospital. After the war, it became a care facility for elderly and sick residents of the region - while the missionary teaching activities were resumed at the same time. Among others, a certain Joseph Ratzinger - later Pope Benedict XVI - taught here in the mid-1960s.
By the end of that decade, the seminary was closed, and the former monastery was repurposed as a home for difficult-to-raise children. Its final use was as a rehabilitation clinic, which shut down operations in 2009.
We had no real idea what to expect - but the journey alone was worth it. From our first location, we drove over a lake and passed through a landscape of forests, meadows, and fields, all glowing in perfect summer weather.
There were, of course, no parking spots to be found. And rolling right up to the entrance was out of the question. So we went with the obvious solution: we parked next to a glass recycling container by the roadside and walked up along the former access road.
The impressive building was surrounded by a construction fence - although someone had conveniently left several garage-door-sized gaps at the back, making access ridiculously easy. We quickly found an open door and began our exploration.
Years of abandonment had taken their toll. Alongside the usual vandalism and stripped cables, there had been a fire in the attic not too long before our visit. The traces of firefighting efforts were still visible throughout the upper floors.
But honestly? Without those water-damaged walls and layers of decay, there would have been far fewer photo opportunities. The fire and subsequent dampness had supercharged the deterioration, turning once plain walls into beautiful canvases of crumbling plaster and vibrant green hues. I have to admit — without that touch of ruin, the place would have been only half as charming.
The attic offered some great shots as well, though moving around up there required extreme caution. The floorboards were already giving way in places, making every step feel like a gamble.
Since the building had been used solely as a clinic for many decades, nothing in the interior hinted at its original purpose anymore - but in its architecture, the sacred past was still unmistakable.
After thoroughly exploring the place, we decided to head back. That’s when we spotted two figures walking along the rear side of the building. For a brief moment, our hearts skipped a beat - but it turned out to be an elderly couple. They had settled down on a bench right next to our “entrance.”
As we left, we greeted them and asked if they were from the area. That sparked a lovely conversation. The old lady told us she had worked at the clinic as a kitchen assistant for decades. Now, she and her husband came back at least once a week to relive their memories. They were saddened by the state of the building - but they understood why we were taking photos.
It was a genuinely heartwarming exchange and the perfect ending to our visit. Conversations with people who lived through a place’s history always add that extra layer of meaning.
To find out more about the history and to check out all the photos from this place, click the button below.
