The largest and most famous, deserted, and jungle-covered urban complexes are undoubtedly the famous capital of the Khmer Empire - Angkor. In our region, such a ghost town is the depopulated and forested Chernobyl. However, you do not need to travel to Cambodia or Ukraine on Pripyat to find places that were once bustling with life and now depopulated. Extinct cities also exist in Poland. And it is not only Borne Sulinowo.
Pstrąże - the largest depopulated town in Poland
In Lower Silesia, several kilometers from Bolesławiec, a village already existed in the 14th century. Digested by a fire at the end of the 19th century, it was rebuilt and rebuilt first for the needs of the German army, and after 1945 for the Soviet army. Both periods are clearly recognizable in other architecture. In 1901, the Germans organized barracks in Pstrąż. After two world wars, the town became part of Poland. As a base for Soviet troops, however, it was not present on the maps and, while remaining the property of the Soviet Army, was inaccessible to Poles. For better isolation from the world, the area was fenced and the access bridge on the Bóbr river was liquidated. Pstrąże did not come under the Polish administration until 1994, after the withdrawal of the Soviet troops. After 1945, Pstrąże (called Strachów during the stationing of the Soviet troops) was greatly expanded. Normal living conditions were provided for several thousand people living here in the closed area. In addition to apartment blocks, a number of public buildings were built, such as a school, a canteen, shops, baths, a sports hall, an officer's casino, etc. They were used by both soldiers and members of their families. The Pstrąże military facility included barracks with numerous warehouses, a military training ground and an ammunition store. The rocket warehouse had missile sets in stock that could be equipped with nuclear warheads.
Kłomino - abandoned ghost town
There is a forest settlement established at the beginning of the 20th century near the town of Borne Sulinowo in the West Pomeranian Voivodeship. The Germans had a base of auxiliary troops here. During World War II, there was a prisoner-of-war camp in Kłomino. After 1945, the Russians took over the area and organized a secret military base. Surrounded by a triple fence and barbed wire, the area was an independent town. At that time, it was called Grodek (Gródek). Apartment blocks, garages, a hospital, shops, a cinema and other public facilities were built there. Before the school was also opened, the children were transported to school in Bornem Sulinów every day. She was stationed in Grodek, among others elite missile unit. After the Soviet army left Poland in 1992, the name Kłomino was returned to. The town was incorporated into the Polish administration, but was unlucky with investment and settlement. Left to their fate and looters, the post-Soviet Kłomino was reduced to four buildings: one communal, one private and two belonging to the State Forests. The rest of the devastated and looted houses are to be demolished.
Kozubnik - a devastated "piece of Switzerland" from the times of the Polish People's Republic
In the years 1968-1970, in the territory of the Little Beskids in Silesia, a holiday village was built for several Silesian plants and party dignitaries. Kozubnik was a closed enclave, separated from the village by a barrier and a guard. More than a dozen buildings erected on nearly eight hectares had their own water intake, emergency power supply system, sewage treatment plant and gas station. A team of doctors looked after the health of the residents. Kozubnik has numerous sports facilities: swimming pools, tennis courts, a ski lift, a cinema and an amphitheater. The comfort of the town was complemented by numerous bars and buffets, a restaurant, a sauna and a solarium. Over 300 people were permanently employed, and every year Kozubnik was visited by tens of thousands of guests. Apart from the official recreational function, the holiday town was a place of meetings and conferences at the high party level. The center had direct contact with the military unit in Bytom and could play an important role as a backup command center for the Warsaw Pact. The change of the political system resulted in the fall of Kozubnik. The private company that bought the resort has fallen into debt and once luxurious buildings have fallen into disrepair. Currently, only lovers of abandoned places visit Kozubnik, and sometimes rescuers with dogs are trained. Revitalization of the site is possible, albeit costly.
Miedzianka - a ghost town on the "copper mountain"
In Lower Silesia, in the Jelenia Góra poviat, there is Miedzianka, known before the war by the German name Kupferberg (Miedziana Góra). For several centuries, the town was the highest, one of the most beautiful towns in the Sudetes. Prosperity was ensured by copper mining and the local brewery, malt house and distillery. Both wars were very gentle with Miedzianka; the tangible objects of the city remained practically intact. The change of borders only resulted in a complete replacement of the population. The former inhabitants fled and were replaced by people displaced from Kresy. The city (and officially the village at that time) had a chance of survival. The Russians, however, became interested in the uranium deposits located in this area. The mining activities, without paying attention to the environment and health of the inhabitants, led Miedzianka to ruin. Houses began to collapse into the ground. In 1967, it was decided to deport people and tear down the buildings. Currently, apart from the ruins of buildings, there is only a brewery in Miedzianka.
Krzystowice - a secret explosives factory
This deserted Polish ghost town has different names. Some talk about Nowogród Bobrzański, others about Krzystowice or DAG Christianstadt. In the middle of the forest, away from the last buildings, a city-factory was built. During the Second World War, it was an important part of the German arms industry. The multi-storey brick and reinforced concrete buildings and the preserved traces of old devices testify to the purpose of the city. The railroad tracks running through the entire area of the plant are still as if ready to transport loads. Only the barracks where the prisoners working in the factory lived are no more left. The exact destination of the city of Christianstadt cannot be determined with certainty. It is certain, however, that explosives were produced here. Due to the risk of explosion, the buildings are far away from each other. Over 200 buildings were counted, but at the time of intensive production for war needs, there could be even 500 of them. Krzystowice was largely independent of other plants and external connections. There was a heat and power plant, a sewage treatment plant, a fire brigade and a casino on site. Currently deserted and depopulated Krzystowice fascinate and terrify at the same time.
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