We know Brandenburg for its idyllic side: a perfect castle complex here, a fairytale landscape with a deep-blue lake there. But does everyone know the other, rougher side? The one made up of dilapidated, abandoned, and vacant buildings —yet one that loses none of its charm. From one of the once most modern athletic complexes, which housed around 3,500 Olympic athletes, to what was once the state’s most famous tuberculosis clinic : there is a wealth of history behind the Lost Places near Berlin. One of these places is the Beelitz Sanatorium, located about 50 kilometers southwest of Berlin in Brandenburg, nestled in a sprawling forest area near the town of Beelitz.
The complex feels like a small town of its own, as dozens of buildings are spread across a vast area. Originally designed as a sanatorium for lung diseases, the complex is now one of the largest abandoned sites in Germany. What is particularly striking is how closely nature and architecture have grown together here, creating a unique, almost surreal atmosphere .
The sanatorium was built at the end of the 19th century, starting in 1898, and was considered a state-of-the-art clinic for tuberculosis patients at the time. The facility was strictly organized and featured separate areas for men and women, as well as its own infrastructure with kitchens, heating plants, and operating rooms. For its time, it was extremely advanced. During both world wars, the buildings were used as a military hospital. One of the most famous patients was Adolf Hitler, who was treated here in 1916 after being wounded. During the GDR era, parts of the complex continued to be used for medical purposes, particularly by the Soviet military. However, after the troops withdrew in the 1990s, the site began to fall into disrepair, a state that continues to define its appearance to this day.
After closing, many buildings stood empty for years and were increasingly reclaimed by nature. Collapsed roofs, crumbling operating rooms, and overgrown facades dominate the scene. It is precisely this contrast between former functionality and present-day decay that makes the Beelitz Sanatorium one of Europe’s most famous lost places. At the same time, some buildings have been secured or partially renovated, so that the impression of a completely abandoned complex is now primarily evident in certain areas.
The impressive setting of the Beelitz Sanatorium has been used multiple times for film productions . Among the best known are Inglourious Basterds, The Pianist, and Valkyrie. The combination of monumental architecture and visible decay gives the place a particularly cinematic effect.
