What does the lesser Moscow look like in Hungary? 3 Abandoned Places That Have Been Empty For Decades – Travel

In Hungary, turbulent periods of history have completely transformed some places, the history of which is preserved in abandoned buildings and told to visitors.

Whether it’s a former Russian barracks, once strictly guarded, or a nobleman’s magnificent mansion, or perhaps a small-town factory site, each has its own voice.

The lesser Soviet military city of Moscow

Not far from the north shore of Lake Balaton, deep in the Déli-Bakony Forest, at the intersection of Nagyvázsony, Tótvázsony and Úrkút, the old secret facility was built as Little Moscow. It was officially called the Soviet military base with serial number 16205, but it is also known as the Nagyvázsony Barracks.

Due to the encryptions, the exact data is not available at the time of the creation of the place now known as a ghost town, presumably it could have been built around 1968. Not only the soldiers but also their families lived here, literally creating a mini town. for them. All major buildings were erected, including a school, sports field, shop, doctor’s office, hairdresser, library, and greenhouse, not to mention two panel houses, providing accommodation for a total of sixty families.

At first, the conditions may seem quite comfortable, and those who live there will remember this period with a good heart, but they had to follow serious rules. They could not leave the barracks or receive visitors. The 32-acre area was strictly protected, not only with barbed wire with an electric shepherd, but also with surveillance shots covered by unauthorized intruders, and they could open fire or arrest them at any time.

But why was this object so protected? Of course, no radical measures were introduced for the benefit of the locals. During the existence of the Soviet Union, it stored nuclear warheads in several member states, including Hungary, in a nuclear bunker built here in Moscow Minor. It is not known exactly how many atomic warheads rested in the basements. Undoubtedly, after the regime change, the barracks were emptied and left in line by the families, the last soldier left on March 28, 1990. After that, the territory came under the supervision of the Hungarian army, but the installation it was not used and visits can only be made with a permit. Looking at the pictures, many can remember the city of Pripyat, which has been deserted since the Chernobyl disaster, and where no one has been able to set foot for a long time.

Monument to oblivion, Castle Zichy-Ferraris-Watzdorff in Somlószőlős

The romantic English castle of Manich Zichy-Ferraris is located near the Somló hill and is also mentioned as a monument of oblivion. At first, the name Manó may sound dissonant, although it is a Hungarian version of Emánuel, and was very popular at the time, especially among aristocrats. Born into a noble family, Zichy Manó began his military career, a turning point in his life when in 1839 he married Lady Charlotte Strachan, the daughter of an English sailor. Built in 1841 with the woman’s dowry, he built a castle in Russia, now Slovakia, in which all the elements of English romance appear. During this period, especially among noble families, it was not customary to marry for love, everything possible was done to preserve wealth and rank.

Then came the 1848-49 War of Independence, in which, to the surprise of many, Zichy-Ferraris Manó fought alongside the Hungarians despite the fact that his family was on the side of the Habsburg emperor. His wife had a lover, Manó Andrássy, a world-famous traveler, and their marriage was ruined during the revolution, which unleashed an avalanche. Zichy-Ferraris Manó, who was not rich despite his noble rank, eventually fell into debt. Shortly after the negotiations, the woman unexpectedly committed suicide at the age of 35 and, curiously, Manó Andrássy was given all power over her will.

According to a legend, Zichy-Ferraris built a replica of the Russian castle at Somlószőlős in the pain of Manó, but this is certainly not true. He had already started the construction process while his wife was still alive, and it was completed in 1851. It is so similar to the previous building only because the noble soldier was there for the hallmarks of English romance. He bravely stood out by receiving the inheritance as a reward. He is also believed to have done a lot to promote Somló wines, planting 28 moons in basalt.

He died in 1877, when the Watzdorff barons bought the property. They also went into debt and moved during World War II, auctioning off the castle, which became the property of the people. Over time, it had many functions, it was used as a barn, it also housed a primary school and a kindergarten, and there were rental apartments on the upper levels. Finally, in 2002, he turned to Austrian entrepreneurs who wanted to create a nursing home there. Instead, a $ 300 million bankruptcy auction was held in 2005. Its current owner is unknown, but the slabs were reinforced, repaired, but could no longer be rebuilt. Completely empty inside, filled with broken-walled doors, building debris, and apparently animals are often used as shelters as well. The staircase and the decoration, on the other hand, are original. I want to sell the castle, it is advertised for 115 million guilders, but the new owner still has to spend at least 600 million on repairs.

It is compounded by the fact that the three-hectare area of ​​the castle and the property of the surrounding residential houses have been declared an industrial zone, and a huge nuclear house has also been built not far from it, which the mayor said. Radio Kossuth. To this day, architects and various visitors admire the empty and bare Congolese mansion, which preserves the memory of bygone times and is a special harbinger of English romance.

The ghost town of Bakony: Vinye’s sawmill

It is located at the entrance to Cuha Gorge, in the heart of Bakony. Vinye a popular excursion destination for many, not by chance. From the small village belonging to the village of Bakonyszentlászló, many hiking trails wind through forests and fields. So it is not difficult to make out the depressing image of the correct settlement and the old sawmill that stands out from the beautiful view of the surrounding nature.

Between 1910 and 1960, at least half of the area known as Vinye-Sándormajor was exposed by a plant in operation since 1912, where most of the wood transported from the forests of Transdanubia was processed, making wood, parquet and various materials from wood. Several houses were built on the estate, which housed families, providing a livelihood for approximately 250-330 people. Former employees like to remember the time, generations have worked here, citing the memory of one of those who worked there: “We felt we had ground under our feet.” Vinyen, where few live today, was inhabited by 130-140 people, mostly factory workers.

The site was founded by the Eszterházy family and operated privately until approximately the end of WWII, during which time it changed hands several times and was eventually taken over by the state. People were able to work in the parquet and sawmill until 1998, when production was stopped following a decision by the then board of directors. The land, which covers an area of ​​3.8 hectares, is disused, rich and in ruins. It was sold in 2000 along with buildings and equipment. The current owner is unknown, but apparently the valuable area has not been used since the closing. Machinery rusts on lawns, empty buildings in the Congo collapse with smashed windows, dangling cables and debris. So many memories have survived of the plant that once flourished and was loved by the hearts of many to this day.

Creepy when they left the building

There are deserted places that have hardly changed anything since they were alone.

(Source of article images: Erika Ácsné / Facebook, dansun / indafoto CC BY 2.5 HU, Christo / Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0, Christo / Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0, Zám Adrienn / Femina source of the cover image: Christo / Wikipedia CC BY- SA 4.0)