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There aren’t too many opportunities to feel like an adventurer in modern times. However, exploring abandoned places and finding unexpected treasures can give you that deep thrill. You might not bring anything physical back to show for your efforts, but the photos you take and the first-hand experiences make for even better souvenirs.

The ‘Abandoned Beauties’ Facebook page is dedicated to urban exploration (aka Urbex or UE) and showcasing gorgeous images of abandoned places and objects. Both past and present. We’ve got a beautiful selection of photos from them to share with you today, Pandas, so go on and have a scroll down into the mysterious, uncharted wilds of Urbex. Upvote your fave photos and, if you’ve ever gone exploring like this yourselves, tell us all about it in the comments.

A very strong note of warning, dear Pandas: your safety is of paramount importance. If you plan on exploring any abandoned places, you need to take the necessary precautions and be extremely careful. I know that you’re all very capable, but you can’t go adventuring without the proper preparations if you want to stay safe. More on that below.

I reached out to photographer Dominic Sberna for some advice about how to keep our photography gear safe while exploring new areas, how to get the right lighting for photos in dark settings, and to understand just how vital camera angles are.

Dominic told Bored Panda that camera angles are important when it comes to showing off the scope of a large building. "A lower angle is going to intensify the view, just as a high vantage point would. The vantage point really matters as well. Depending on what you're going for in your shot, you'll want to have a nice showcase of the scene in front of you when exploring any abandoned property," the photographer explained. You'll find the full interview below.

#1

Mcdermott's Castle, Abandoned Fairytale Irish Castle In The Middle Of A Lake, County Roscommon, Ireland

Mcdermott's Castle, Abandoned Fairytale Irish Castle In The Middle Of A Lake, County Roscommon, Ireland

malteheitmueller Report

"A wide-angle lens is always a great option for any confined space, but again this all depends on the look you're going for and is absolutely dependent on the scene in front of you. If you're in a massive industrial warehouse, you could lose some impact to your image if you have a super-wide-angle lens," photographer Dominic told Bored Panda

"At the end of the day, just like any genre of photography and anything in life, practice makes perfect. But don't beat yourself up if your images aren't 'perfect.' You should always try to take them for yourself. If others like them, that's an added bonus and you'll stay true to your creative self by knowing you did things for yourself," the photographer suggested that we focus on what makes us happy instead of trying to please absolutely everyone else.

#3

A Very Little Key Will Open A Very Heavy Door. Charles Dickens

A Very Little Key Will Open A Very Heavy Door. Charles Dickens

kimzier11 Report

"The best way to keep your camera safe is to always keep it attached to you. That might mean different things to different people. Generally having your camera strap around your neck is a good thing. But, if you feel more comfortable holding it, that way if something unexpected does happen, you can move as needed," Dominic said.

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When it comes to lighting, your camera's inbuilt flash might not be enough. He shared that he will "always advocate" for a tripod and a long exposure when shooting in dark settings.

#4

The Garden Of Ninfa Is A Landscape Garden In The Territory Of Cisterna Di Latina, In The Province Of Latina, Central Italy

The Garden Of Ninfa Is A Landscape Garden In The Territory Of Cisterna Di Latina, In The Province Of Latina, Central Italy

The garden includes the ruins of the ancient settlement of Ninfa, whose name seems to derive from a classical era nymphaeum, a temple dedicated to nymphs, located on an island in the small lake.

robyrabs Report

#5

Abandoned Castle In Italy

Abandoned Castle In Italy

Abandoned Beauties Report

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Debbie Barnes
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Can you imagine how beautiful this once was.. The winding staircase, the balls that took place there... So sad that it can't be restored...

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"If you're wanting an action shot in the dark or a more illuminated subject, I'd recommend using an external flash or using external lighting altogether," Dominic suggested. "Depending on the look you're going for will depend on your preferred light source."

He noted that the flash on a camera has a fairly harsh and direct light. "You're going to cause a lot of harsh shadows and as a general rule, I would recommend staying away from the on-camera flash unless you absolutely have to use it," the photographer told Bored Panda.

#7

The Stairway Of An Abandoned Button Factory

The Stairway Of An Abandoned Button Factory

Abandoned Beauties Report

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Rabbit Carrot
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Looks like someone raided the place and dropped the stash as they were escaping.

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#9

Abandoned 19th Century Greenhouse, France

Abandoned 19th Century Greenhouse, France

jahzdesignoff Report

The ‘Abandoned Beauties’ project has quite the member count over on Facebook. A whopping 435.8k people follow the page. It’s easy to see why.

The photos are stunning and evoke a sense of mystery, adventure, and uncovering lost secrets. The photos are also peppered with a heavy dose of creepiness that makes us just uncomfortable enough to keep us alert.

#10

Abandoned Glasshouse

Abandoned Glasshouse

kollaps3n Report

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Rabbit Carrot
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We have one of these in my town park. It’s really beautiful. I wanted to restore it and turn it into a cafe, the council planning department said no and it’s still rotting away with more and more windows being smashed by yobs each passing year. Sigh.

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#12

Abandoned Chapel In France

Abandoned Chapel In France

isabelle_van_assche Report

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tiari avatar
tiari
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Because restauration is really expensive, especially if you need highly specialist artists for it. And you need those because you have to adhere to preservation order codes. And if you own an old castle that happens to have a chapel in the gardens, your efforts and money go to the castle first.

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Patty Jackson
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why would they abandon this beautiful church, crazy. The Catholic church has way too much money.

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Ginger S Baldwin
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm looking at all these amazing photos of beautiful places, wondering, "Why? What happened here?"

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Susan Widomski
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

To be able to take some of the pieces, so they don't rot away...

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Rick Krivoniak
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

At least fix the missing stone window casing at the right-center before the rest of it collapses!

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Bert van Aalsburg
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This reminds me of a scene, in a film about the 100 Years War, where the main characters found refuge before being found by a group of marauders.

rix_1 avatar
Arenite
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I’m not religious, but it’s a shame that all the hard work and love the workers put in to this place is ignored. This should be a functioning building that’s a part of a community.

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Riley Quinn
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Repurpose this beautiful building for refugees and the homeless. It is a church after all.

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DetongLhamo
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The Churches have enough $$ to be made to maintain buildings like this.

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julien
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

wrong ! church is poor in France ! and this chapel could be in a castle !

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Gwyn
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I feel like it's even more beautiful with the green in it. Why don't we incorporate more nature into our places of worship?

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Mama Penguin
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It looks like a magnificent location for a wedding photo shoot.

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Asi Bassey
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Plants grew where the pews used to be, but not in the aisle.

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Kevin Camp
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Places like this need to be saved even if to just make movies there.

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Hugh Willie Mungous
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's quite sad. How could such an attractive church fail to have a congregation in so populated a country?

tiari avatar
tiari
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It probably never had a congregation. It belongs to a castle, so probably it was the pivate chapel of the castle owner.

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HardTruths
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The mass of green foliage, basks in sermons of sunshine...

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Cheri Aline Sydney
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ohhhh, I wish I had the means to take this over and bring it back to life!

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The founder of the ‘Abandoned Beauties’ project notes that they credit all the photographers for their work. If you notice a gorgeous photo without any credits, then that means that the image is either part of the creative commons license or the page wasn’t able to find the original photographer.

If you have any questions about all of that and you want to give the photographers a follow but can’t seem to find the original source, try asking the page moderator or the community itself. You never know, you might find someone who’s in the know!

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One thing to keep in mind is that, overwhelmingly, the authors of the photos don’t add details about the precise locations. This is done very much on purpose, in order to protect the locations and objects from vandalism.

#13

The Ruins Of Bannerman’s Castle, An Abandoned Military Surplus Warehouse, Still Stand In The Middle Of The Hudson River

The Ruins Of Bannerman’s Castle, An Abandoned Military Surplus Warehouse, Still Stand In The Middle Of The Hudson River

Kim Zier Photography Report

#14

Fairy Tale House

Fairy Tale House

u_r_b_e_x__ Report

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Pearl
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wow. If someone gave this building a chance, it would look even more beautiful.

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#15

I Don't Understand Why People Abandoned Beautiful Properties Like This

I Don't Understand Why People Abandoned Beautiful Properties Like This

tmaxfirenze Report

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Caro Caro
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You don't understand? How much money do you have to maintain the building, heat the place, electric bills, etc.

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Keeping the locations secret is a very practical approach. While a handful of urban explorers visiting an abandoned ship (which is dangerous in itself) might not do much harm (especially if they don’t remove anything as souvenirs), the same can’t be said about dozens, hundreds, or possibly even thousands of visitors.

#16

A Library Inside An Abandoned 19th Century Victorian Mansion. Who Wants To Explore??

A Library Inside An Abandoned 19th Century Victorian Mansion. Who Wants To Explore??

Abandoned Beauties Report

#18

Ballysaggartmore Towers Are Two Ornate Entrance Lodges (One Also Acts As A Bridge)

Ballysaggartmore Towers Are Two Ornate Entrance Lodges (One Also Acts As A Bridge)

They are situated on the former Ballysaggartmore Demesne approx 2.5 kilometres from the town of Lismore in County Waterford, Ireland. The structures are were constructed for an Anglo Irish Landlord, Arthur Keily-Ussher no later than 1834.

michaela.abeyphotography Report

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Imagine if a huge flood of urban explorers would end up going to a single location. Some of them might be veterans who know to treat the location with care, however, others might be amateurs who damage the place willfully or by accident.

#19

The Magnificence Of An Abandoned Place

The Magnificence Of An Abandoned Place

instabruijn Report

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Stijn Cornelis
Community Member
2 years ago

That's the 'Handelsbeurs' in Antwerp. Fully renovated by now

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#20

A Roman Bathhouse Still In Use After 2,000 Years In Khenchela, Algeria

A Roman Bathhouse Still In Use After 2,000 Years In Khenchela, Algeria

ACAA Report

#21

An Old Castle That’s Been Left Behind In England

An Old Castle That’s Been Left Behind In England

_marcelsiebert Report

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Rich Walker
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's not an abandoned castle, it's King Alfred's tower, a folly built in the1760s to commemorate the end of the Seven Years' War against France and the accession of King George III near the location of Egbert's Stone, where it is believed that Alfred the Great, King of Wessex, rallied the Anglo-Saxons in 878 before the Battle of Edington.

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More foot traffic means more wear and tear and that means that the risk of getting hurt increases. Someone might weaken the floorboards in an abandoned shack or someone else might have vandalized the railings, leading to a nasty fall.

#22

Abandoned Beach House Slowly Being Reclaimed By The Sea, North Carolina

Abandoned Beach House Slowly Being Reclaimed By The Sea, North Carolina

meunderwears Report

#23

Shengsi Islands

Shengsi Islands

There are few reminders of the power of nature as beautiful and stark as the scenes at the abandoned village of Houtouwan, on the Shengsi archipelago just off the Chinese mainland.

This small fishing village was only deserted in the early 1990s, but since then nearly every building has been enveloped by some of the densest greenery you will ever see.

w.n__t Report

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#24

Abandoned Hotel Del Salto, Colombia. Explore Or Ignore?

Abandoned Hotel Del Salto, Colombia. Explore Or Ignore?

Abandoned Beauties Report

Part of being an urban explorer means keeping a lot of information secret, only sharing it with a small handful of trustworthy community members. Posting photos is fine; shouting about where you took them isn’t.

#25

Beautiful Abandoned Miners' Cottages In A Disused Slate Quarry In Snowdonia, North Wales

Beautiful Abandoned Miners' Cottages In A Disused Slate Quarry In Snowdonia, North Wales

The quarry closed in 1969 due to industry decline and because 170-years of working the site had reaulted in waste tips sliding into the main pit workings.

peter.pup Report

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Suzy McKee Charnas
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I can't help but imagine the misery of living in one of those stone cells and trudging off every day in that dank, dim air to work in the mines.

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#27

Abandoned Hotel In Northern Italy (San Pellegrino)

Abandoned Hotel In Northern Italy (San Pellegrino)

Abandoned Beauties Report

Preparation is everything when it comes to Urbex. That means getting yourself a good pair of gloves, a pair of thick shoes, and wearing a quality dust mask. When you venture out, you should be wearing heavy clothing and perhaps even a helmet of some sort to protect your body from any debris or in the case of a fall.

#28

Hidden In The Forest

Hidden In The Forest

abandoned_nordic Report

#29

Abandoned Spa Town In The Czech Republic

Abandoned Spa Town In The Czech Republic

Abandoned Beauties Report

#30

Abandoned Villa In Italy

Abandoned Villa In Italy

glory.of.disrepair Report

Before you venture out, do some research about the area and the specific location. Reach out to any local Urbex communities or any pals who you know go exploring after school or work. Whenever possible, consider starting your adventure with a partner or two by your side. That way, if one of you gets hurt, the other can help! And that means that you all get back home safely, ready to share your fantastic photos with everyone on the internet.

#31

Ghost Cloud Temple

Ghost Cloud Temple

glory.of.disrepair Report

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The Cute Cat
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think this is the pi bedugul hotel in Bali. Abandoned because the building against local rule for not build anything higher then local Pura, so considered to having bad luck.

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#32

Aniva Lighthouse In Sakhalin, North Of Japan

Aniva Lighthouse In Sakhalin, North Of Japan

lanasator Report

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#35

Sintra

Sintra

d.p.abandoned_explorer Report

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André Tiago Almeida
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is not abandoned, it is called "Poço Iniciático" (or Well of Initiation), and it belongs to the complex of Quinta da Regaleira in Sintra, Portugal. It can be visited.

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#36

Skola Tower. Italia

Skola Tower. Italia

ir0n4ss Report

#37

Abandoned Beauty

Abandoned Beauty

decades_of_decay Report

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Pearl
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'd want to live here. After I figure out how to ward off all the ghosts

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#39

Abandoned Guitar Factory

Abandoned Guitar Factory

hirooooox Report

#40

Awesome Staircase In Europe

Awesome Staircase In Europe

inertia42 Report

#41

Who’s Interested In Escaping Civilization And Buying Their Own Private Island In Wales? This Fixer Upper Sea Fort With Epic Views Is Now For Sale, It Was Last Upgraded In 1859!

Who’s Interested In Escaping Civilization And Buying Their Own Private Island In Wales? This Fixer Upper Sea Fort With Epic Views Is Now For Sale, It Was Last Upgraded In 1859!

johnedwardjames Report

#42

An Overgrown Pool At An Abandoned Mansion. Location Unknown

An Overgrown Pool At An Abandoned Mansion. Location Unknown

chicago_jenn Report

#43

Atmosphere In Russia

Atmosphere In Russia

svetoch_13 Report

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#47

Smirnykh, Sakhalinskaya Oblast', Russia

Smirnykh, Sakhalinskaya Oblast', Russia

Originally, the airfield on this place was built in the early 20th century for the Imperial Japanese Army and was called Keton. It consisted of a 1200 m long concrete runway, gravel taxiways and about 20 equipped aircraft parking lots.

After the Soviet Union regained control over Sakhalin in 1945, the Smirnykh airfield (both the village and airfield were renamed in 1946 after the battalion commander who died in the battles for the liberation of the island in this area) became home to the 528th Fighter Aviation Regiment, which performed the tasks of air defense of Sakhalin Island and its marine zone.

In 1966, the airfield was reconstructed. A new runway with a length of 2,000 m was built, which was later extended to 2,500 m, as well as reinforced concrete shelters for aircrafts with fan exit to taxiways.

In 1994 the fighter aviation regiment was disbanded. The aircrafts were moved to Komsomolsk-on-Amur, where a storage base was equipped, but later all of them were disposed off. But two MiG-23s, one combat aircraft and one combat trainer, were left in hangars at the Smirnykh, where they remain to this day...

lanasator Report

#50

Soviet Era Tupolev 104 Jet

Soviet Era Tupolev 104 Jet

maria.urbex.photography Report

Note: this post originally had 84 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.