Europe has many hidden treasures. We have selected for you the most amazing abandoned places in Europe. Discover the Lake Reschen in Italy, the Buyukada orphelinat in Istanbul, the tunnel of love in Ukraine or the abandoned amusement park in Berlin. 

Book your hotel, guesthouse, B&B or apartment at the best price guaranteed and discover the strangest and the most amazing abandoned places in Europe. 

1. Lake Reschen

Bolzano - Italy

Reschensee or Lake Reschen is an artificial lake in the western portion of South Tyrol, Italy, approximately 2 km south of the Reschen Pass, which forms the border with Austria, and 3 km east of the mountain ridge forming the border with Switzerland.

The lake is famous for the steeple of a submerged 14th-century church; when the water freezes, this can be reached on foot. A legend says that during winter one can still hear church bells ring. In reality the bells were removed from the tower on July 18, 1950, a week before the demolition of the church nave and the creation of the lake. (©CC).

2. The Chateau de Noisy

Dinant - Belgium

The castle was built in 1866 by the English architect Edward Milner under commission from the Liedekerke-De Beaufort family, who had left their previous home, Vêves Castle, during the French Revolution. However, Milner died before the castle was finished. Construction was completed in 1907 after the clock tower was erected.

Their descendants remained in occupation until World War II. A portion of the Battle of the Bulge took place on the property, and it was during that time, the castle was occupied by the Nazis.

In 1950, Miranda Castle was renamed "Château de Noisy" when it was taken over by the National Railway Company of Belgium (NMBS/SNCB) as an orphanage and also a holiday camp for sickly children. It lasted as a children's camp until the late 1970s (©CC).

3. Tunnel of love

Klevan - Ukraine

This amusement railway (and walkway for lovers) called Tunnel of Love is located near Klevan in Ukraine.

4. Craco

Matera- Italy

Craco is a ghost town and comune in the Province of Matera, in the southern Italian region of Basilicata.

The old town was abandoned in 1963 due to recurring landslides. The abandonment has made Craco a tourist attraction and a popular filming location. In 2010, Craco has been included in the watch list of the World Monuments Fund. (©cc).

5. Spreepark

Berlin - Germany

Spreepark was opened in 1969 as Kulturpark Plänterwald, covering an area of 29.5 hectares. The area is situated in the north of the Plänterwald, next to the river Spree. It was the only constant entertainment park in the GDR, and the only such park in either East or West Berlin.

On 18 January 2002, Norbert Witte (owner), together with his family and closest coworkers moved to Lima in Peru. They shipped six attractions (Fliegender Teppich, Butterfly, Spider, Baby-Flug, Wild River, and Jet Star) in 20 ship containers, having been allowed to do so by the authorities who believed they were being sent for repair.

Since 2002 the park has not opened for visitors. In August 2002 the park was declared completely insolvent. Debts at a level of €11,000,000 remained and the area was allowed to fall into disrepair. The Ferris wheel still stands, but has not operated since the park's closure, likewise, the remains of other attractions can still be found on-site. (©CC).

6. Buzludzha Communist Headquarters

Gabrovo - Bulgaria

The Buzludzha Monument on the peak was built by the Bulgarian communist regime to commemorate the events in 1891 when the socialists led by Dimitar Blagoev assembled secretly in the area to form an organised socialist movement with the founding of the Bulgarian Social Democratic Party, a fore-runner of the Bulgarian Communist Party. The Monument was opened in 1981. No longer maintained by the Bulgarian government, it has fallen into disuse. (©CC)

7. Buyukada Orphelinat

Istanbul - Turkey

The film is about to start, the decor is already in place. On an island, miles away from everywhere surrounded by gates and barbed wire is one of the largest wooden constructions ever built. Built in 1898 as a hotel, it was never allowed to open for lack of proper planning permissions. It remained abandoned for a long time until a wealthy Greek philanthropist turned it into a school and orphanage for children.

The building was abandoned in the sixties and exudes something quite incredible. Wardens live in a tiny house on this land of sheep and chicken and are not allowed to let you in. They will give you a smile and a firm «No» the reason being the near state of collapse of the buildings which are still miracoulously standing. Go round the building and remain well behind the barriers; you will get a good overviw of this building which was once listed as one of the most beautiful places in the world. FYI, the place is now back into the property of the Greek Orthodox Church, following a long legal process, although no rehabilitation project is under consideration at the moment.

8. Canfranc Station

Canfranc - Spain

Canfranc Station's raison d'être came to an abrupt halt in 1970 when a train derailment demolished a bridge on the French side of the mountains. The French decided not to rebuild the bridge, the cross border line was closed and never re-opened.

The main building has been re-roofed, but is otherwise in a state of disrepair, fenced off and closed to the public except during guided tours in July and August offered via the local tourist office. (©CC).

9. Varosha

Famagusta - Cyprus

Varosha is a quarter south of the Cypriot city of Famagusta. It is located within Northern Cyprus. Prior to the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974, it was the modern tourist area of Famagusta. Its inhabitants fled during the invasion, and it has remained abandoned ever since.

10. Balestrino

Liguria - Italy

Balestrino is composed by the old historic town, upon a hill, and the new town below it. Abandoned in 1953 for hydrogeological instability, the old centre is a ghost town whereas the modern center is still inhabited today.

11. Pripyat amusement park

Pripyat - Ukraine

The Pripyat amusement park in Pripyat, Ukraine was an upcoming amusement park. It was to be opened on May 1, 1986, in time for the May Day celebrations (decorations for this event are still in place in Pripyat today) but the plans were interrupted when on April 26 the Chernobyl disaster occurred a few kilometers away. The park was opened for a couple of hours on April 27 to keep the city people entertained before the announcement to evacuate the city was made. Today, the park, and in particular the Ferris wheel, are a symbol of the Chernobyl disaster. The amusement park itself is located behind the Palace of Culture in the centre of the city. (wikipedia).