Lost places, i.e. “abandoned places” shrouded in mystery, are almost always well-kept secrets and not easy to find. Now there is a public database on Google Maps.
Urbexing is becoming increasingly popular, especially among young people. Lost places, i.e. forgotten places, are visited and explored. These include cemeteries, ghost train stations, abandoned factory buildings or gloomy bunkers from the Second World War.
In reality, however, it is often not easy to find these places, because the objects are usually well hidden. “UrbexElite”, a group of like-minded people who regularly visit Lost Places, has set itself the task of creating a database in the form of a Google Maps map with abandoned places.
Huge collection of abandoned places
The Urbex map shows thousands of abandoned places, marked by red icons, spread across the world. Since the map was created by the German-speaking Facebook community “Urbex Elite”, most of the places are spread across Germany. But also in other parts of Europe and in more remote regions, such as Kazakhstan or Thailand, there are always individual marked Lost Places.
There is also a corresponding legend of the map, which explains the individual symbols and their respective meanings. This makes it immediately clear whether it is, for example, an abandoned school, a bunker or an empty hospital. If you click on a place marked on the map or on the symbol, you will receive further information.
Link with further details: This is behind it
One or more Facebook links are often stored there. Problem: Whoever clicks on the link usually only lands on a Facebook page with the error message that the content is currently unavailable. According to “Urbex Elite”, these links are only available to the most active members of the community. This is to ensure that no information falls into the wrong hands.
The Best Cameras for Lost Place Photography
The links hide Facebook posts that reveal further details and pictures of the Lost Place as well as current information on local conditions. But even in the public description there are sometimes helpful details and sometimes even pictures.
Important to know: However, the makers of the map expressly point out that the only function of the map is to assign a location to the photos shared in the Facebook group. It is not recommended to visit the locations as, according to the creators, entering the properties may constitute a criminal offense.
Lost Places: This is what you need to know
Anyone who visits Lost Places should be aware of all legal requirements and the dangers of urban exploration beforehand. Abandoned houses and villas as well as old industrial plants are privately owned. Entering these facilities is not permitted. If the property is visited without permission, this counts as trespassing. This is a criminal offense in this country and is punishable by imprisonment for up to one year or a fine.
More importantly, visiting Lost Places also poses a health hazard. Many buildings are already at risk of collapsing, rocks and other objects can fall, and stairs or platforms are at risk of falling. You should also be careful when it comes to electricity, because it is not uncommon for individual buildings to still be connected to the power grid and live cables are sticking out of the walls. Toxic substances can also be present in industrial plants. Particular caution applies to railway systems. Danger to life here!
What is behind the lost place trend?
The Lost Place trend owes its popularity primarily to social media platforms such as Instagram. The hashtag #lostplace alone now has around 2.8 million posts there, and there are also numerous urbexing groups on Facebook. The Lost Places Google Maps map was also created by a Facebook community.
It is therefore not surprising that most Lost Place visitors, well equipped with mostly professional camera equipment, set off to take the most breathtaking and impressive pictures possible, which can then be shared online.
Digital cameras in the test
Panasonic Lumix DC-FZ1000 II
Offer from BestCheck Image quality (1.2)
Equipment / Handling (1.0)
speed (1,2)
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 VII
Offer from BestCheck Image quality (1.1)
Equipment / Handling (1.2)
Speed (1.1)
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 IV
Offer from BestCheck Image quality (1.3)
Equipment / Handling (1.0)
Speed (1.0)
Sony Cybershot DSC-RX100VA
Offer from BestCheck Image quality (1.1)
Equipment / Handling (1.2)
Speed (1.5)
Sony vlog camera ZV-1
Offer from BestCheck Image quality (1.0)
Equipment / Handling (1.4)
Speed (1.6)