Learn the haunting backstories.
Though apocalyptic, there's something beautiful about abandoned places. The clocks have stopped ticking and there's not a soul in sight, but the shell of what used to be remains. Abandoned places show us what happens without consistent human upkeep—and perhaps what could even happen to the places we love and frequent. These spots are haunting, and there is a mysterious beauty in neglect. The following locations (albeit somewhat weathered over time), are some of the most striking we've ever seen. Read on to see the most beautiful abandoned places in the world—and learn their backstories. You'll almost feel voyeuristic looking at them, like you're witnessing a very intimate piece of someone else's life.
Shrouded in fog and beguiling fall foliage in the Alaskan wilderness, the Kennicott Mines and surrounding town are (almost) as creepy as Packard Sawmill in Twin Peaks. The town of Kennecott was once flourishing with copper miners and their families until resources were depleted by the late 1930s and all of the townspeople fled—except for a family of three. It was totally abandoned by the 1950s when the family watching over it finally left.
Though well past its glory days, the international Canfranc train station in Huesca, Spain still leaves a majestic impression. It was once one of the most frequented train stations in Europe, and the second largest one at the time of its construction in 1928. It was closed when a train derailed on the French side of the bridge, but current plans to revive the station by 2026 could bring it back to its former glory.
Though you would never know from looking at its current state, Grossinger's, in Liberty, New York, used to be a luxurious weekend upstate escape. In its heyday, it was similar to the resort in Dirty Dancing (some even say Grossinger's was the inspiration behind the film). Due to an economic downfall in the town, the resort closed its doors in 1986.
Talk about apocalyptic. This semi-submerged prison has a dark past. Prisoners were forced to work in the quarry until it was abandoned in the early 1990s when Estonia gained independence from the Soviet Union. Without any people maintaining the area, it eventually flooded with water. Today, it's a beach—so if this is your idea of a beach vacation, we recommend you get your scuba diving license first.
Hotel Goricina was once a luxe escape in a Yugoslavian military resort, which was destroyed in the Croatian War of Independence, along with a string of other hotels. Today, pink bougainvillea and the blue waters of the Adriatic Sea pop against the stark disarray of this abandoned Croatian coast hotel.
Located on the lush Japanese island of Hachijojima, Hachijo Royal Hotel was once one of the country's largest resorts. The French Baroque architecture juxtaposed against the moss and overgrown trees is seriously eerie.
Creepy, sure, but the cheerful sky blue paint (or what's left of it) and that pretty swirly window also remind us of Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory. Dating back to the 1800s, this complex functioned as a military hospital during times of war. The surrounding area was abandoned in the mid 1990s when Soviet forces withdrew from Germany.
In the 1970s, copper mining took off in the village of Geamana in the Romanian countryside. When the mining created an enormous amount of toxic waste, the dictator at the time, Nicolae Ceausescu, mandated total evacuation (around 400 families) so the valley could be used as a toxic dump site. Though the town was flooded by an artificial lake and tons of toxic waste, you can still see this resilient tower poking through.
Despite being in existence since 540, much of this town's population evacuated during the 20th century due to poor agriculture, a landslide in 1963, and a flood in 1972. Now it's an ancient site so striking that it's served as a set for movies like The Passion of the Christ.
This fishing village on China's Yangtze River isn't your average forgotten town—its lush buildings covered in ivy and greenery are surprisingly tranquil and striking.
The flooded church of Saint Nicholas sits in the Mavorvo Lake in Macedonia. The destruction was actually intentional, as the lake was created to support a power plant—the church and surrounding village were merely caught in the wake of progress. What's left is an eerie juxtaposition of the dilapidated building against the lovely landscape.
Built in 1866, this fairytale-like structure in Belgium was intended to be a summer home, but the designer died before its completion in 1907. Afterwards, it was taken over by Nazis during World War II, served as a summer camp for 20 years, and was abandoned in 1991, because it was too costly to maintain.
Located in South Andaman, India, this island was once a British administrative center for the Indian Penal Settlement. However, after it was abandoned it became overgrown with wild Ficus and now it has a stunning Jungle Book vibe.
This theme park was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Murky water rose as high as six feet and salt water damaged 80 percent of the rides. What was left behind was a strangely beautiful monument to the vibrant city once nearly destroyed by tragedy. However, the city has plans to replace the remains with a new amusement park.
While this was once a lush island occupied by many people, in the 1930s it was evacuated because of the threat of starvation and harsh weather. Now, abandoned stone structures are speckled across the fields.
Just off of the coast of Marco Island in Cape Romano, Florida is a structure that looks like an abandoned alien space craft. In reality, it was once a vacation home that has since been destroyed by hurricanes. Now, the declining coastline makes it unsalvageable.
The Berlin Historic District was founded in 1897 as part of the mining boom, but never saw the success of other nearby towns and was largely abandoned by 1911. It's now part of a Nevada State Park.
This town was founded in the Namib desert in 1908, after a man found a diamond in the area, but was abandoned in 1954 after resources were exhausted. The homes that were left are now filled with sand—a strange, yet striking, sight to behold.
This Scottish castle was built in the mid-1400s and housed some of the most powerful people in the country. However, it was abandoned in the 1700s, and is now one of the most photographed castles, because of it's striking location.
This town nestled in the Taurus Mountains was deserted in the 1920s, because of a political population exchange with Greece. Today, there are around 350 abandoned homes in the city.
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