These lost places were once magnificent castles and palaces

They were once places of fame, beauty, and power: magnificent palaces, whose facades and towers rose from the most beautiful parks and gardens in Europe. But many buildings have lost their splendor over the decades or centuries. The rooms are overgrown with plants, the furniture dusty, and the walls crumbling.

The reasons why only ruins remain of some of these luxurious buildings are very diverse. Their fates are united only by the fact that life is fleeting—and that nature always ultimately reclaims its lost space.

The fascination with such lost places is captivating more and more people. The often isolated buildings offer dystopian photo opportunities in places that few otherwise reach.

But be careful: Imitating these practices is dangerous. Entering the dilapidated ruins carries the risk of injury. Furthermore, the buildings are often privately owned – anyone entering such premises without consulting a local authority can expect legal consequences.

Until the Red Army invaded, Dwasieden Castle on Rügen was used as a naval artillery school. Soviet troops blew it up in 1948 as part of a land reform in the occupied zone. All that remains are the remains of the temple-like pavilions and the ruins of the princely stables, which burned down in 1997.

Only the facade of the burnt-out stables reminds us of the white Dwasieden Castle on Rügen.

Source: imago images/Zoonar

In recent years, there have been repeated development plans for the "white castle by the sea," located on a hill near Sassnitz's city harbor, but all of them have failed. Currently, the ruins are said to be owned by a real estate investor. Historical tours are offered regularly.

The abandoned Vitzenburg Castle stands guard over the Unstrut Valley near Querfurt in Saxony-Anhalt . The former castle was first documented in the eighth century AD. Later, it was used and expanded as a nunnery, then as a monk's monastery, and finally as a Benedictine monastery before passing through the hands of several noble families.

Like many other castles in Germany, Vitzenburg Castle was confiscated by Soviet occupiers after World War II and converted into a children's and youth home. It then served first as an agricultural facility and then as a child and adolescent psychiatric hospital.

Prominent vacancy: Since the 1990s, the beautiful Vitzenburg Castle in Saxony-Anhalt has been sought in vain for a new use.

Source: imago images/Steffen Schellhorn

Since the clinic closed in 1996, the main building has stood empty—most recently, a production team used it as a backdrop for the children's and youth film series "Bibi and Tina." Unfortunately, the castle is currently closed to visitors.

In 1859, Count Djerdj Močonji had a small family castle built in the small village of Vlajkovac, about 100 kilometers west of the Serbian capital Belgrade . His daughter gave it as a wedding dowry to the Austro-Hungarian noble family of Bissingen-Nippenburg. The castle remained in the family until the end of World War II. It was then nationalized by the socialists.

The building, which is said to have once housed an extensive library, a valuable porcelain collection, and rare gold figurines, subsequently served as a children's home and then as an agricultural estate until 1953. Today, only a ruin remains of the once vibrant house, where homeless people occasionally sleep overnight.

Villa Sbertoli is an ancient estate in Tuscany that was converted into a psychiatric hospital in the 19th century by Augustine Sbertoli. The professor is said to have originally purchased the villa to care for his son. Gradually, more patients were added.

Between 1941 and 1989, the chapel's interior furnishings and the historical collection of knight's armor and other memorabilia once housed in the tower disappeared. To prevent the rooms from being vandalized by homeless people and, according to media reports, drug addicts, the castle's doors and windows were bricked up.

Since 2015, at least the publicly accessible park in Wildhaus is no longer a lost place. The Selnica Tourist Board cares for the ancient trees, plants the flowerbeds, and maintains the paths and pond.

Maribor Castle, built in the 15th century by Emperor Frederick III in the Alpine town of the same name on the Drava River, is considered one of the most beautiful buildings in Slovenia today. Just ten kilometers away, on the western outskirts of Maribor, stands an equally beautiful building: Wildhaus Castle.

Unlike the tourist attraction in the town center, Wildhaus Castle is abandoned. After its construction in the 16th century, the beautiful complex served primarily as a trading post and toll station. It later became private property until the Nazis converted it into a women's prison during World War II.

After the war, the castle was confiscated by Yugoslavia and used first as a military hospital, then as accommodation for pilots, and finally as a retirement home. The building has been empty since 1989.

For fans of historic facades, Mechelen, Belgium, is a perfect destination for a city break. The city is home to more than 300 listed buildings, including an imposing town hall, the famous town houses of Sint Jozef, De Duivel, and Het Paradijs, and the mighty St. Rumbold's Cathedral.

Somewhat removed from the hustle and bustle, but not far from the city center, stands the pretty Kasteel de Borght, whose origins date back to the 15th century but only acquired its present form around 1860. This compact miniature castle is situated on a hill in a beautiful park and is surrounded by a moat. The interior features salons, stucco ceilings, a wine cellar, and bedrooms with corner fireplaces.

The perfect private castle could be purchased – if you have around 2.5 million euros to spare. The listed building was once listed for sale at that price. It is unknown who currently owns Kasteel de Borght.

In the 1980s, on the edge of a nature reserve about 40 kilometers west of Gdansk, Polish artist Piotr Kazimierczak began realizing a long-held dream: his own castle. The massive complex was to encompass 6,000 square meters, 52 rooms, a ballroom, and a swimming pool.

The unfinished Lapalice Castle is an unofficial attraction for locals and travelers.

Source: imago images/Konrad Zelazowski

But only when the shell was already well underway did it emerge that the artist had violated the building permit – the area permitted was only 1,000 square meters. The result: construction was halted.

Kazimierczak made repeated efforts to save the castle from decay. But the authorities opposed his plans. However, there are now plans to release the site for other uses—perhaps the castle will eventually be completed. Lapalice Castle is already a popular destination for visitors and locals alike.

The ruins of Lowther Castle are located in the center of Cumbria in northwest England . The origins of this remote site date back to a country estate that the Lowther family had extensively expanded at the end of the 17th century.

Lowther Castle in England was left unattended for centuries. To save on taxes, the family even had the roofs removed.

Source: imago images/Panthermedia

But after about 200 years, the family had to abandon their beloved home. The fifth heir to the property, Hugh Cecil Lowther, had squandered his fortune on his extravagant lifestyle and could no longer afford to live in the castle.

In 1937, the building was vacated and served as quarters for a tank regiment during World War II. The family subsequently tried in vain to find a buyer. Ultimately, the owners had no choice but to let the castle fall into disrepair for decades.

It wasn't until the turn of the millennium that the complex was revitalized with the help of a newly established fund. Since 2011, the palace and its 50-hectare park have been officially open to visitors.

Nestled among the wooded hills of the Basque Country in northern Spain, about a 20-minute drive from Bilbao, stands the Castillo de Butron. This magnificent castle was abandoned and neglected for a long time. It has now been privately purchased and is being restored. After the work, which is expected to last several years, the mighty and compact walls will once again give the impression of an indestructible fortress.

The massive walls of Butron Castle were a popular photo subject for travelers in the Basque Country.

Source: imago images/Westend61

But the history of this imposing eleventh-century building proves otherwise. The castle suffered severe damage over the centuries during several wars waged by the Butron family. It wasn't until the 19th century that the castle acquired its present appearance, when the politician and architect Francisco de Cubas commissioned extensive renovations.

For the reconstruction of the facade, the builder was inspired by the architecture of Bavarian castles —the small turrets are somewhat reminiscent of Neuschwanstein Castle. The rebuilt castle was briefly marketed as an attraction, but the concept failed. However, it is now once again possible to take guided tours and explore the castle , while the imposing walls are partially covered by scaffolding.

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