Charlotte Foster
International Travel

Sombre Aussie site tops global list of most unusual abandoned places

Each year, thousands of people travel to famous abandoned buildings and hotspots to explore what were once important landmarks. 

Some deserted sites are more popular than others, as these ten sites received tens of thousands of visitors each year. 

Buzludzha, Bulgaria

The Buzludzha Monument in central Bulgaria has been dubbed the tenth most famous abandoned place in the world, each year welcoming over 18,000 people. 

The site was constructed in 1981 and used by the Bulgarian communist government, and was in use until the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1989.

Ohio State Reformatory, USA

After first opening in 1898, the goal of the Ohio State Reformatory was to truly "reform" and rehabilitate its inmates.

The facility was closed in 1990, and each year attracts more than 21,000 visitors.

Gereja Ayam, Indonesia

The uniquely shaped house of prayer in Central Java continues to be a popular tourist attraction in Indonesia, welcoming more than 50,000 travellers each year. 

Construction on the church was never completed after work was halted in 2000.

Lago di Resia Bell Tower, Italy

The 14-century sunken bell tower can be found near the border of Switzerland, emerging from the water from a sunken village where travellers claim they can hear bells tolling, even though there are no bells in the tower. 

The lonely (and probably haunted) tower receives more than 54,000 tourists each year. 

Canfranc, Spain

The abandoned railway station is located in the Spanish municipality of Canfranc, close to the French border and once was a major hub for cross-border railway traffic.

It first opened in 1928, but closed its doors by 1970 before it was reimagined as a hotel.  

Beelitz Military Hospital, Germany

The large hospital complex was first built in 1898 as a sanatorium, but was transformed into a hospital at the beginning of WWI and has been abandoned since 1990. 

It's understood Hitler was treated here after being wounded in the Battle of Somme, which could be the reason more than 64,000 travellers flock there each year. 

Eastern State Penitentiary, USA

The prison in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is described as one of the country's most historic prisons and has housed some famous prisoners such as Al Capone.

The prison was closed in 1971 and is tagged on social media by more than 79,000 every year. 

Croix-Rouge, Paris

Also known as the Red Cross, this Paris train station has been abandoned since 1939 after France entered WWII.

The station was only functional for 16 years, and welcomes more than 95,000 curious travellers each year. 

Teufelsberg, Germany

Teufelsberg was one of the largest listening towers in the world during the Cold war.

The site was closed in 1972, but still receives around 128,000 every year. 

Port Arthur, Australia

More than a quarter of a million visitors travel to Port Arthur in Tasmania each year.

The site itself was first opened as a timber station in 1830 and is known as a symbol of the country's convict past.

Image credits: Shutterstock 

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travel international, abandoned, Port Arthur, haunted