Tour Report: The Lock Ruin

Not an “abandoned place” in that sense, but still a very interesting place is the building we visited in May 2020. It is the ruin of a lock structure that was once intended to become part of the Elster-Saale Canal, which had been planned since the 1920s. However, construction was completely halted in 1943 due to the Second World War.

Now only the massive reinforced concrete structure remains as a reminder both of great technical achievements and of a time of war and oppression - just a few meters away are the remains of a delousing chamber, indicating a labour camp.

As the ruins are an official monument, there will be no report here about finding a parking space, sneaking around and spectacular entrances. We took a look at the huge concrete walls in great weather and walked along the paths that lead around the ruins and were more than impressed by the sheer size of the structure. You rarely get to see something like this.

To find out a bit more about the place and to check out all the photos, click the button below.

Tour Report: The Bus in the Lake

This spot has long been a desired location - not because it is particularly spectacular, but because it was particularly unique. And we were lucky - because less than six months after our visit, the bus was removed because too many people were trying to swim to it and putting themselves in danger.

You can find out how the lake was formed and how the bus got there by following the link below.

It was the final location that day, and it was conveniently on the way back. Parking wasn't too easy, because the place is right at the side of a field, no real road lead there. We had to park on the side of the main road in the village and walk the rest of the way - but the weather was still great, so it was a nice short walk in the sun.

As I've said - there isn't anything spectacular about this location, and the bus in the lake is the only shot to be taken. At the time, I didn't have my drone yet, so I could only take a few shots from the shore of the small lake - but I was really happy to finally have seen the place!

To find out a bit more about the place and to check out all the photos, click the button below.

Tour Report: Agricultural Seeds Center

The second place we had on our list for my wife's birthday tour in 2020 was only about five minutes away from the old cemetery we had visited first.

Here, too, there was a parking lot right outside the door, so to speak. However, the building - a former seeds station - is surrounded by a fairly large open space. It is therefore almost impossible to enter unnoticed. So we looked for a point on the path surrounding the site where the building was between us and the residential area opposite, so that we at least had the feeling that we wouldn't be seen immediately as we walked across the field.

When we arrived at the building, we immediately saw an open door through which we were granted access.

Given the exposed location and the fact that the location is relatively well-known, I wasn't expecting too much - but we were really pleasantly surprised. The vandalism was limited and we found many things that indicated the former use of the building: Magazines on agriculture and genetics, files on plant breeding and cross-breeding, various specialist literature, packing materials and a large quantity of coffee sacks.

Even a few technical devices had survived the long time of abandonment.

So after the old cemetery, this was the second location in a row where you could discover an incredible number of exciting details. Although many of them are not really relevant from a photographic point of view, they offer a great insight into the work that has been carried out on this site for almost a century.

Here, too, we took plenty of time to take it all in before making our way back to the car.

To find out a bit more about the place and to check out all the photos, click the button below.