Abandoned industry at its finest! In this episode the BWT crew is venturing into an old plant which is decommissioned for two decades now to unveil its story. Join us if you’re ready for urbex porn!
Towers In The Fog by Broken Window Theory, on Flickr
To find the forgotten site at this day in autumn was actually quite hard, since the dense fog made it hard to see things. We were somewhere in the Czech Republic near the German border. On this day we were searching for an industrial remnant from a bygone era that had shaped the whole region. The place we were looking for is located off the beaten path high up on a lonely hill. Up here the fog was especially thick which led to an oppressive atmosphere. 20 years ago everything was abandoned and today nature has reclaimed the area. As it seemed we have reached our destination: A former state-owned ore mine.
Silent Hill #24 by Broken Window Theory, on Flickr
Really quick we realized the bad shape of the structures. Vandalism but also wind and weather are destroying the building stock more and more. Those buildings all have leaking roofs which accelerates the decay. Little by little those houses simply fall apart. The owner of the property can't be found anymore. In the past, literally everything was left behind here but most of it has fallen victim to scavengers by this time. Actually it's pretty impressive to see what wasn't stolen yet. In one of the sheds we even found the plant's own shunting locomotive . But of course this one - as well as all the other machines - has been gutted.
Ridin' The Train To Apocalypse by Broken Window Theory, on Flickr
Exactly 50 years ago, in the year 1968, the pit began operation, although most of the buildings weren't finished at this time. Back then the whole region has been characterized by mining already for several centuries. However, in this particular pit especially the rock mineral magnetite was mined. In order to do this several big tunnels were dug into the mountain.
Silent Hill #03 by Broken Window Theory, on Flickr
On the compound there are several headgears which were used to transport the mineworkers and minerals. This is the smaller one. In the past, the tower was the entrance to the shaft. With these elevators miners were able to get to the underground tunnels. Unfortunately, it's not possible anymore to get into the pit. After the operators went bankrupt, there wasn't any money left to pay for the electricity bills. This means the pumps in the underground didn't work anymore and so the tunnels were flooded with water.
Headgear by Broken Window Theory, on Flickr
As it's the case with many other former facilities in Eastern Europe, the shutdown of this mine is connected to the downfall of the USSR. The Czech Republic was called Czechoslovakia back then and it was part of the Eastern bloc. At the end of the Cold War the economic situation of the country got worse and worse. Apart from this, ore from South America or China were way cheaper on the global market. This mine wasn't able to compete anymore, so mining was eventually terminated in the summer of 1992. This hit the region hard because there weren't any replacement jobs in the close proximity.
Blueprint by Broken Window Theory, on Flickr
This mine was then supposed to become a museum. Already before the pit was shut down it was possible to visit the underground with permission. This facility was bought by a private proprietor who wanted to continue operation here with this new concept. However, in the end his plan didn't work. The money ran out and all the buildings were closed down for good in 1998.
Jungle Mine by Broken Window Theory, on Flickr
In the end we would like to show you our favorite part of the plant. The building which was used for processing the ore is right next to the big pit frame. Also here the roof is completely leaking which led to wind and weather transforming this huge hall into a scenery you only know from sci-fi-movies.
Crane by Broken Window Theory, on Flickr
After operation was terminated here 20 years ago, a new owner got the property during insolvency proceedings. But apparently there wasn't any interest in saving the place because the site was left on its own. However, the mine was still guarded by a security company for many years. Only in 2015, the sentry was withdrawn. And it took only three years until nearly everything that still had value was looted or destroyed completely.
Silent Hill #08 by Broken Window Theory, on Flickr
To see more of this unique place make sure to watch our documentary:
Towers In The Fog by Broken Window Theory, on FlickrTo find the forgotten site at this day in autumn was actually quite hard, since the dense fog made it hard to see things. We were somewhere in the Czech Republic near the German border. On this day we were searching for an industrial remnant from a bygone era that had shaped the whole region. The place we were looking for is located off the beaten path high up on a lonely hill. Up here the fog was especially thick which led to an oppressive atmosphere. 20 years ago everything was abandoned and today nature has reclaimed the area. As it seemed we have reached our destination: A former state-owned ore mine.
Silent Hill #24 by Broken Window Theory, on FlickrReally quick we realized the bad shape of the structures. Vandalism but also wind and weather are destroying the building stock more and more. Those buildings all have leaking roofs which accelerates the decay. Little by little those houses simply fall apart. The owner of the property can't be found anymore. In the past, literally everything was left behind here but most of it has fallen victim to scavengers by this time. Actually it's pretty impressive to see what wasn't stolen yet. In one of the sheds we even found the plant's own shunting locomotive . But of course this one - as well as all the other machines - has been gutted.
Ridin' The Train To Apocalypse by Broken Window Theory, on FlickrExactly 50 years ago, in the year 1968, the pit began operation, although most of the buildings weren't finished at this time. Back then the whole region has been characterized by mining already for several centuries. However, in this particular pit especially the rock mineral magnetite was mined. In order to do this several big tunnels were dug into the mountain.
Silent Hill #03 by Broken Window Theory, on FlickrOn the compound there are several headgears which were used to transport the mineworkers and minerals. This is the smaller one. In the past, the tower was the entrance to the shaft. With these elevators miners were able to get to the underground tunnels. Unfortunately, it's not possible anymore to get into the pit. After the operators went bankrupt, there wasn't any money left to pay for the electricity bills. This means the pumps in the underground didn't work anymore and so the tunnels were flooded with water.
Headgear by Broken Window Theory, on FlickrAs it's the case with many other former facilities in Eastern Europe, the shutdown of this mine is connected to the downfall of the USSR. The Czech Republic was called Czechoslovakia back then and it was part of the Eastern bloc. At the end of the Cold War the economic situation of the country got worse and worse. Apart from this, ore from South America or China were way cheaper on the global market. This mine wasn't able to compete anymore, so mining was eventually terminated in the summer of 1992. This hit the region hard because there weren't any replacement jobs in the close proximity.
Blueprint by Broken Window Theory, on FlickrThis mine was then supposed to become a museum. Already before the pit was shut down it was possible to visit the underground with permission. This facility was bought by a private proprietor who wanted to continue operation here with this new concept. However, in the end his plan didn't work. The money ran out and all the buildings were closed down for good in 1998.
Jungle Mine by Broken Window Theory, on FlickrIn the end we would like to show you our favorite part of the plant. The building which was used for processing the ore is right next to the big pit frame. Also here the roof is completely leaking which led to wind and weather transforming this huge hall into a scenery you only know from sci-fi-movies.
Crane by Broken Window Theory, on FlickrAfter operation was terminated here 20 years ago, a new owner got the property during insolvency proceedings. But apparently there wasn't any interest in saving the place because the site was left on its own. However, the mine was still guarded by a security company for many years. Only in 2015, the sentry was withdrawn. And it took only three years until nearly everything that still had value was looted or destroyed completely.
Silent Hill #08 by Broken Window Theory, on FlickrTo see more of this unique place make sure to watch our documentary:
