Krieg im Paradies

The mild September morning was perfect. The damp smell of the woods permeated the humid air and mingled with the sweet and similar aroma emanating from the gabled buildings. Inside, we were greeted with vast corridors stretching into the dim light every which way, and cavernous rooms built with incredible attention to aesthetics, function, and ingenuity. It was no surprise that the place was just about completely emptied of its former contents (I've found this to be common in former East Germany, and especially old military property), but the barren spaces alone were mesmerizing in their shapes, lighting, and decay.

It was possible to traverse the main complex without needing to go outside. Some walls were constructed to partition off certain wards, but either a hole was smashed through or a basement route could be taken. I misjudged how large this complex really was - by the time we started to come full circle, I was barely taking any time to set up the shot in a rush to see and photograph as much as I could. Just about every hallway looked stunning in the diffused light; even with the 100 photos featured in this gallery, I spared many similar photos of beautiful, serene empty spaces.

A series of shots cracked out along the empty halls around midday, signaling that a team of paintball players had started a game; we looped back through basement passages and on upper floors to avoid being seen. The interior bore the multicolor fluorescent marks of paint balls, but in surprisingly few areas.

I hope to return to explore more of the outbuildings and underground spaces of this amazing complex before it is renovated.