PHOTOS: the post-apocalyptic charm of abandoned places in Hungary

The Hungarian Chernobyl, the abandoned town of Szentkirályszabadja, photo: wikipedia, Christo

Abandoned places have a nostalgic charm to them. It feels like time had stopped and we can get a glimpse of what life used to be like back then. There is a mysterious beauty in their neglect, and sometimes a lingering, haunting feeling when we walk around the buildings.

Here are some abandoned places in Hungary that are worth seeing, even if only in pictures.

Ghost town near Veszprém

The sight, also known as the Hungarian Chernobyl, used to be a military centre. Constructed in the 1960s, it used to be home to thousands of Russian soldiers. In some buildings, you can still see the tell-tale signs of former schools, nurseries, cinemas and shops. The town has been abandoned since 1996, and not a lot remained other than buildings. Since it changed owners, it can only be visited with permission, but many trucks pass through the town as it is adjacent to an industrial area. Photographers also often visit the late military town to capture a tiny piece of the past.

National Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology (Országos Pszichiátriai és Neurológiai Intézet)

The institute was built in 1868 but its operation ceased in 2007. Although many were skeptical about its effectiveness in helping those in need, the building’s beauty is unarguable. It definitely has a haunting atmosphere. Unfortunately, the forsaken institute is closed to the public, however, by checking out the videos and pictures of Szellemvárosok, you can virtually visit its wards and corridors.

Psychiatric hospital Lipótmező, 1868, architect Ludwig Zettl, photo: wikipedia, Texaner

Beautiful press house

Although the construction of the press house dates back to the 1920s, all of its equipment is still untouched. There are presses, grinders, chemicals, sugar and salt shakers scattered all around the interior. However, the most interesting thing about the place is its cellar. Without exception, each barrel is still in its place, in fact, Szellemváros even found some wine at their bottoms. The mind truly wanders about what it was like sipping a glass of wine on this building’s porch.

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Abandoned children’s hospital

Originally operating as an orphanage accommodating children who lost their parents in the world wars, it had to widen its services after the hospital was bombed. Many old documents and photos can be found in the building, including unusual relics such as a ledger from 1941 with the Hungarian Royal Seal displaying the names and data of the children who lived at the institute. The orphanage has been abandoned since the 1990s.

Children’s resort

The resort in the forest was built in the 1930s, as a vacation camp for children of postal workers. After the 1990s, the number of visitors started to drop, and people slowly forgot about the place. The abandoned wooden buildings in the middle of the forest already have some scary ambiance to them, but you can also find some blood on the walls behind the metal bars. Although people came up with various spooky stories about the blood stain, it was only a prop for a horror movie that was shot there.