When we call a place home, instead of a house, we’re ascribing a sort of positive emotion to it. But on the flip side, a windowless, empty house can evoke melancholy, sad, and even spooky emotions as our brains wonder why the people left in the first place. Mortgage costs are boring, it must be ghosts.
The “Old and Abandoned Houses” Facebook page gathers images of buildings from a bygone age that no one lives in anymore. So get comfortable as you scroll through and be sure to upvote your favorites and comment why you think some of these places are devoid of people below.
More info: Facebook
#1 Grimmenstein Castle, Austria
Image credits: Log Homes
#2 Abandoned Mansion In Michigan
Image credits: Abanoned Story
While on the surface, these are mostly just decrepit old buildings, there are some psychological factors in play that make them fascinating to us. First and foremost, we do have an innate curiosity about abandoned places, as some part of our brain wants to confirm if it’s truly abandoned. Perhaps we think we can find something interesting or find answers to why people left.
It’s also worth noting that in most cases, the places we live in are not abandoned, so it’s a unique chance to see just what age does to a home, something we don’t see every day. Add in the fact that many of these houses are built in an “older” era and it’s easy to see why the average person might find such a building interesting.
#3 Abandoned Fairy Tale House
Image credits: Log Homes
#4 Such A Shame
Image credits: Log Homes
#5 Abandoned Victorian Bathtub
Image credits: Log Homes
We aren’t the only people who think that old “ruins” are interesting, there is some evidence that in the 18th and 19th centuries, Medieval castles, no longer necessary as fortifications, were purposefully allowed to crumble and fall apart, as they would yield “aesthetically pleasing” ruins. While modern historians might grumble at this, the logic is sound.
#6 The Room Of An Old Abandoned House In Italy
Image credits: Old and abandoned houses
#7 A Boot-Shaped House Hidden Deep In The UK Forest
Image credits: Log Homes
#8 Abandoned Castle
Image credits: Log Homes
In cases where there weren’t readily available ruins, people would simply fake them. Architect Johann Ferdinand Hetzendorf von Hohenberg designed a set of “Roman ruins” for the garden of the Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna, Austria. The Hapsburg rulers of the time, like many fashionable people, had a passing interest in the ancient world and didn’t think fake ruins were weird at all.
#9 Into Abandoned Old House
Image credits: Log Homes
#10 Abandoned Beauty Found In An Apartment
Image credits: Log Homes
#11 The Red Stairs
Image credits: Abanoned Story
And before you judge, consider that modern humans regularly erect haunted houses, horror escape rooms and take tours of places associated with death. There is a thrill associated with a location, while the houses in this list also might be just spooky enough to titillate a real horror fan.
#12 Abandoned
Image credits: Log Homes
#13 Abandoned Mansion In France
Image credits: Log Homes
#14 Abandoned Mansion
Image credits: Abanoned Story
For some, an abandoned house isn’t enough, they need a whole street or even a region. This is why some companies make a profit by offering tours of Pripyat, near Chornobyl, still mostly restricted since its nuclear power plant suffered a catastrophic failure in 1986. People have a chance to explore a ghost town, plus see a relatively untouched Soviet town, as long as they don’t care about a little exposure to radiation.
#15 Left Behind In France
Image credits: Log Homes
#16 Would You Explore This?
Image credits: Abanoned Story
#17 An Abandoned Mansion In The Irish Forests
Image credits: Abanoned Story
Others might go to Hashima Island, Japan, where mines have been abandoned since the 1970s. While not really dangerous, These locations are still “wild” enough that visitors feel like they may stumble across something new or unexpected. The presence of a tour guide would suggest otherwise, but most prefer an interesting delusion to reality.
#18 Abandoned House In Forest
Image credits: Abanoned Story
#19 Abandoned House In Coudersport, Pennsylvania
Image credits: Log Homes
#20 A Forgotten Masterpiece In An Abandoned Mansion
Image credits: Log Homes
This is perhaps the same psychology that drives people to explore the most uncomfortable caves known to man, even if it means risking life and limb to see a bit of rock that no one else has. Of course, by definition, an abandoned house can’t be “unseen” since it had to have been at least built.
#21 Abandoned Mansion, Belgium
Image credits: Log Homes
#22 Abandoned Bedroom
Image credits: Log Homes
#23 An Abandoned Haunted House Located In Berlin, Germany
Image credits: Abanoned Story
If you are still interested in exploring an abandoned house and looking at these images isn’t enough, there are some safety tips one should follow. First, get permission if you can. Walking around an old house only to get slapped with a trespassing charge is probably not fun for anyone. Avoid going alone and preferably tell someone where you are headed, just in case.
#24 Old Abandoned Victorian House
Image credits: Log Homes
#25 Entrance Of An Abandoned Castle, France
Image credits: Abanoned Story
#26 Abandoned House
Image credits: Abanoned Story
If you do end up going, don’t say you weren’t warned by us, the law, 1001 films, and common sense. But do be sure to take some photos and document these locations for the rest of the world to see. In many cases, these houses have probably sat untouched and unseen for decades, so it would be interesting and educational for all to get a peek inside.
#27 Abandoned Castle
Image credits: Abanoned Story
#28 Your Inheritance… Keep It Or Sell It?
Image credits: Abanoned Story
#29 Cochem, Germany
Image credits: Mysweetchubs
And if you are interested in more house-related content, Bored Panda has got you covered, you can take a look at our list of things people recommend you do before buying your first home. Or, if you want a good laugh, check out our post collecting the best “Ugly Belgian Houses,” which might make you wonder if they are an architect’s practical jokes.
#30 Abandoned In Scotland
Image credits: Abanoned Story
#31 Abandoned Church
Image credits: Abanoned Story
#32 Germany
Image credits: Abanoned Story
#33 This Car And Cabin
Image credits: Log Homes
#34 A 14th Century Abandoned Caste In Scotland
Image credits: Abanoned Story
#35 Would U Like To See Inside ?
Image credits: Abanoned Story
#36 A Decaying Neo-Gothic Turret Hidden Among The Hills – Italy
Image credits: Abanoned Story
#37 Abandoned Beauty!
Image credits: Khánh Jenny
#38 Edinburgh, Scotland
Image credits: Abanoned Story
#39 Witch House. Wooden Cottage , Tatra Mountains , Poland
Image credits: Log Homes
#40 Looks Like It Is Straight Out Of A Fairytale!
Image credits: Abanoned Story
#41 St Pancras Renaissance Hotel Staircase
Image credits: Abanoned Story
#42 Abandoned House
Image credits: Abanoned Story
#43 Abandoned Hotel – 2019
Image credits: Abanoned Story
#44 Amazing Abandoned Castle’s In The World – Scotland
Image credits: Old and abandoned houses
#45 Abandoned Mansion In The Forest
Image credits: Abanoned Story
#46 Abandoned Country House
Image credits: Abanoned Story
#47 Would You Live Here?
Image credits: Abanoned Story
#48 Peleș Castle, Sinaia, Romania
Image credits: Abanoned Story
#49 Abandoned Guitar Factory
Image credits: Log Homes
#50 An Overgrown Pool At An Abandoned Mansion
Image credits: Abanoned Story
#51 Abandoned. Would You Live There ?
Image credits: Abanoned Story
#52 A 900-Year-Old Church Still Standing In Ireland
Image credits: Abanoned Story
#53 Bed Returned To Ordsall Hall
Image credits: Log Homes
#54 Abandoned Beauty, Louisville, Kentucky
Image credits: Abanoned Story
#55 The Owner Of This Amazing Treehouse Was An Oil Magnate And Built This House For His Grandkids
It had a bathroom, kitchen, bedrooms, running water and electricity. When he died and the kids grew up, it was just forgotten about.
Image credits: Abanoned Story
#56 Château De Puilaurens In Aude, France, Built In 1229
Image credits: Abanoned Story
#57 Soviet Era Tupolev 104 Jet
Image credits: Abanoned Story
#58 Abandoned Spa Town In The Czech Republic
Image credits: Abanoned Story
#59 Abandoned Mansion With Pool
Image credits: Log Homes
#60 Abandoned House In Istanbul Turkey
Image credits: Abanoned Story
#61 Abandoned Castle, Ireland
Image credits: Abanoned Story
#62 The Medieval Eltz Castle Located In Wierschem
Germany, has been owned and occupied by the same family for over 850 years, 33 generations to be exact.
#63 Abandoned
Image credits: Abanoned Story
#64 French Castle In Total Decay
Image credits: Abanoned Story
#65 Bouzov Castle, Czech Republic
Image credits: History Ancient Archeology
#66 Abandoned
Image credits: All Abandoned
#67 Abandoned Beach House
Image credits: Abanoned Story
#68 This Castle
Image credits: Abanoned Story
#69 French Château
Image credits: Abanoned Story
#70 Abandoned Island In Japan (Hashima,nagasaki)
Image credits: All Abandoned
#71 Abanoned
Image credits: Abanoned Story
#72 Webster Wagner House, 1876 (Demolished 2015). Palatine Bridge, New York
Image credits: Abanoned Story
#73 Abandoned Somewhere In Romania
Image credits: Log Homes
#74 Sitting Room – Frederick Vanderbilt Mansion In Hyde Park, NY (Built In 1896)
Image credits: Abanoned Story
#75 Abanoned
Image credits: Abanoned Story
#76 Just Amazing
Image credits: Abanoned Story
#77 Abandoned
Image credits: Abanoned Story
#78 1219 Abandoned Mansion, Then And Now
Image credits: Log Homes
#79 Abandoned In Detroit, USA
Image credits: Old and abandoned houses
#80 Abandoned House
Image credits: Log Homes
#81 This House Is About 4 Blocks From Where I Iive And Has Been Empty Around 10 – 15 Years
Image credits: Abanoned Story
#82 A Mossy Reflecting Pool An A Abandoned Estate In Florida
Image credits: Log Homes
#83 Paffendorf Castle, Germany
Image credits: Abanoned Story
#84 James Lee House, Memphis, USA
Image credits: Abanoned Story
#85 Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany
Image credits: History Ancient Archeology
#86 Abandoned In The Middle Of Nowhere!
Image credits: Log Homes
#87 Abandoned Art Studio In Italy
Image credits: Abanoned Story
#88 Castle In Germany
Image credits: Abanoned Story
#89 Abandoned Subway Station Russia
Image credits: Log Homes