One of the most fascinating, abandoned buildings in Poland is located in Legnica in Lower Silesia. It is a post-Soviet hospital located exactly in the Złotoryja Forest on the outskirts of Legnica. The complex, built in the mid-twentieth century, was used to treat soldiers of the Wehrmacht, and then it was taken over by the Soviet army. The hospital passed into the hands of Poles only in 1993. Today it is a formidable, huge object that is falling into more and more ruin every day.
Abandoned post-Soviet hospital in Legnica - a short history of the facility
Before the hospital fell into the hands of Poles ...
The abandoned post-Soviet hospital is located in Legnica, in the Złotoryja Forest to be precise. The hospital was built by the Germans in 1929. During World War II, wounded soldiers of Wehrmacht were treated here, and favorable conditions for convalescence were created for them. There were many different departments in the hospital, such as a psychiatric ward, and an infectious and surgical ward. Without a shadow of a doubt, at the time it was one of the best-equipped hospitals within a few hundred kilometers. About 650 patients could be treated in the building at once. When the war ended, German troops left the hospital, which was then occupied by the Soviets. At that time, the Command of the Soviet Army Group was located in Legnica. It is worth adding that there were many more positions for PGW in Lower Silesia.
The Soviets only left the hospital in 1993. The building then passed into the hands of the Bug River inhabitants - citizens displaced in the years 1944-1952 from the areas of the former Polish Eastern Borderlands. The term "Zabużanie" was later used to describe all persons who were entitled to compensation for property beyond the Bug River - the property that had to be left behind by the Bug River inhabitants for the time of resettlement. The citizens of the former Eastern Borderlands wanted to sell a huge complex of buildings but failed to do so. People could not afford to maintain the facility, which caused the hospital to deteriorate in the eyes day by day. To this day, the complex stands in the middle of the Złotoryja Forest, surrounded by a concrete wall. There is chaos in the hospital, a terrifying atmosphere, and a sinister emptiness.
What can you find today in the abandoned Ghost Hospital?
Until mid-2019, the post-Soviet hospital was guarded by security. However, there was not enough money to pay for the security company that watched the area and made sure that no one came through the hospital walls uninvited. From time to time, groups of daredevils, of course, managed to enter the complex, especially when seekers of unusual adventures came to an agreement with a security guard. It was thanks to their accounts that it was possible to find out and see what was inside the post-Soviet hospital. It's good that the remaining documentation is in the form of photos of bloggers and movies of urbex fans - today most of the things are stolen and the rooms are devastated. Recently, the hospital was also… set on fire again.
The main building of the hospital is huge. It extends over many different corridors that lead to patient rooms or operating theaters. Some of the photos taken by tourists in the hospital show the remains of the Soviets and their activities (e.g. papers, information boards, medicine bottles, and test tubes). In addition to the main building, on the territory of the post-Soviet hospital, there is also a small chapel, a swimming pool, a dissecting room, and several additional hospital wings. Many people wonder how the potential of such a fantastically functioning facility could be wasted. The complex that today stands abandoned in the middle of the Złotoryja Forest. The building is allegedly more and more interested in the Building Inspection and Councilors of the City of Legnica - especially since there is a real risk of the building collapsing. The post-Soviet hospital is regularly visited by groups of young people who are looking for extreme adventures here. Therefore, it is not difficult to find a tragedy in a decaying facility.
Wandering around the Widmo Hospital in Legnica - is it haunting here?
What does a post-Soviet hospital actually look like?
Almost all windows are now glazed. The interiors of the hospital were "decorated" with various paintings, and most of the items were stolen or destroyed. Vandals even took railings at balconies and stairs and cast-iron manholes, the lack of which poses a real threat to the buildings exploring the complex. In general, it is not recommended to come here alone, mainly due to the huge area of the hospital and the lurking dangers. You can get lost here or fall into a manhole, so it will be wiser to visit the place in a larger group. The largest building is the main building, which is divided into several single hospital wings. The main corridor measures over 200 meters and consists of three floors. There is also a spacious basement under the building. Most of the main building is devastated, not resembling the former hospital. When going to the basement, you should take a flashlight with you, although today it is better not to risk going into the underground parts of the building at all.
There is also an indoor swimming pool within the hospital, which can be found behind the main building. There are also former shower rooms next to the pool. However, you should be very careful when exploring this part, because the floor is heavily damaged and full of holes. In addition to the pool, there is also a chapel with a mortuary, which was probably prepared for four bodies - as there are only four shelves in the hospital mortuary. In the mortuary, there used to be a large table and a lamp, which were a showcase of the post-Soviet hospital in Legnica. Unfortunately, they have also been stolen. The remaining buildings of the hospital are, for example, a residential house for hospital staff, a former restaurant, laundry room, hospital shop, or a car hall.
Ghost Hospital, which will soon turn into ruin
Even though the facility is already badly damaged, there are still many people willing to explore the hospital. Every year, however, there is less and less to watch here. The building is still devastated and there is no sign that anyone will clean it up. At the beginning of May 2021, several fire brigades were extinguishing a fire started in the hospital. Fortunately, no one was inside.
The post-Soviet abandoned hospital is still dark and haunted. Unfortunately, day by day it turns into more and more ruin. Almost everything that was possible was brought out of the interior. Is this a sign that the history of the post-Soviet Widmo Hospital in Lasek Złotoryjska is ending? The current condition of the building indicates that the history of the hospital ... is long over.
Bibliography:
Tadeusz Gumiński, Edward Wiśniewski: Legnica and its surroundings. Legnica-Wrocław Guide, Atut Publishing House, Wrocław 2001
Kidger Rebecca E .: Ghosts. Stories about haunted places and people, Rea Publishing House, Konstancin-Jeziorna 2012
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