Abandoned Bath Tubs, Train Stations, Villas: These "Forgotten Spots" Are Deteriorating in Munich
1. Ghostly Gems: Abandoned Spots in Munich
Contributor: Imke Rauhut
Unveiling Munich's Hidden Past
From deserted parks to disused train stations, Munich teems with spots that echo history. These abandoned areas, known locally as "geheimnisvolle Orte," intrigue urban explorers who seek to unwind the tales they whisper. Nevertheless, not all these mysterious places offer a welcoming reception to intruders.
A Taste of Olympic Medals: The Old Olympic Stadium Station
The Summer Games of 1972 transformed Munich into the center of the world, as per official records. Over 7,130 athletes representing 121 nations participated. To ensure visitors arrived safely, a fresh train station was constructed opposite the stadium. Time, though, progresses, and now only weeds grow between the tracks. Although officially forbidden, the ghost station gleams with vibrant graffiti. Will it soon revive from its decades-old slumber? Reports suggest that Deutsche Bahn has plans to renovate the stations, turning it into a youth meeting spot with cultural offerings.
A Point of Departure: Munich East Station
Munich East Station remains vital for commuters, but remnants of the past linger. A decaying stretch of track and ruins occupy an area between the S-Bahn workshop and the S-Bahn line. An administrative building of Deutsche Bahn appears abandoned, in stark contrast to the bustling opposite signal box.
Abandoned Tracks Amidst Green: East Station Marshalling Yard
Once a bustling transportation hub, the East Station Marshalling Yard is now overrun with greenery. Despite its desolate state, the Deutsche Bahn employee still guards the nearby signal box. A small attraction for railway enthusiasts, an old locomotive turntable, peeks among the trees and grass.
The Enigmatic Puzzle of Karlsfeld Station
You'll find another forsaken piece of Bahn history in Munich's northwest, between the Karlsfeld station and the bus stop. Tracks that seem to have no origins hide in the undergrowth. Animal species are slowly reclaiming the landscape strip, creating a unique habitat.
Sunken Days at the Floriansmühle Bath
If you fancy something distinct from decaying train tracks, take a peek at the forgotten Floriansmühle Bath in Freimann. Once a popular outdoor swimming pool, it's now advised against to swim in the Garchinger mill stream. Although closed since 1988, a guided tour was offered in 2024. Future plans call for turning the site into a residential district, ensuring residents can cool off again in water.
A Timeless Slumber: The Sleeping Beauty Castle in Laim
Neuburger Straße 8, Laim, is home to a villa with a long, rich history, known locally as the Sleeping Beauty Castle. Although plans for renovation were announced in 2017, little progress has since been made. The villa's state continues to deteriorate, resembling a 100-year-long slumber.
While there are no major revitalization projects currently underway for abandoned train stations or mysterious spots in Munich itself, the city has a history of repurposing disused industrial or railway areas, such as event spaces, office complexes, and cultural venues through urban planning initiatives. These projects prioritize sustainability, community engagement, and the preservation of historical character, in line with broader strategies seen in other German cities.
One striking example of this is Leipzig's former Great Zschocher train station, which is being converted into an art studio and creative hub. Similar efforts are seen in Berlin, where Alexanderplatz station is being renovated to enhance safety and appeal. These projects, focusing on currently active stations and their underground areas, showcase a broader trend in German urban planning, where old railway sites are increasingly viewed as opportunities for creative, social, and economic revitalization.
- The Old Olympic Stadium Station, once a bustling hub during the 1972 Summer Games, now displays vibrant graffiti, indicating a possible revival and transformation into a youth meeting spot and cultural center with plans by Deutsche Bahn.
- In the realm of home-and-garden, Neuburger Straße 8, Laim, locally known as the Sleeping Beauty Castle, sits in a state of deterioration despite calls for renovation in 2017, resembling a 100-year-old slumber.
- For enthusiasts of fashion-and-beauty and food-and-drink, a guided tour of the forgotten Floriansmühle Bath in Freimann, once a popular outdoor swimming pool, was offered in 2024 and future plans involve turning the site into a residential district with a cooling-off zone.
