A neglected cemetery somewhere in Germany - with tombstones so old that it is not even possible to make out any inscription anymore. Located on these eerie grounds, there is a forgotten structure that provides a unique glimpse into the past. This is a chapel from the World War One era. It was built more than one hundred years ago but is deserted today. In fact, we discovered this place only 15 min away from where we grew up. It's basically located in our hometown - hidden in plain sight.
We were alone in the cemetery that day. Parts of it are still in use. But this is just a small graveyard, and the community takes care of several others as well. Unfortunately, they can't afford to maintain all of them equally. So, this one is falling apart more and more - even though there are a number of listed structures on the compound: Next to the chapel and some very old graves, there is also a war memorial dedicated to the fallen of World War One.
The chapel is covered in cobwebs, and it seemed as if we were the first people here in a while. There is a musty smell in the air. That is because rainfall that is coming in freely through holes in the roof is penetrating the wooden balcony and other furniture - and thus accelerating the decay of this historical monument. The longer it sits empty the more unlikely it is that the structure can still be saved at some point.
The future of the cemetery is uncertain. At the moment, the community is discussing its full closure but nothing is decided so far. However, if they take this path it would mean that there is no hope for the historical structures anymore. Unfortunately, it seems as if they will bury this part of our region’s cultural past. More and more ruins in the surrounding towns are vanishing, and not all of them are a blot on the landscape. Some of them are actually part of our home's identity - such as this one.
Are you interested in seeing more of this untouched abandoned chapel? Then make sure to watch our video report on YouTube:
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