The world’s most breathtaking abandoned sites: From Pakistan’s Bibi Jawindi to Italy’s Palazzo Athena

Tomb of Bibi Jawindi (Pakistan). 'The Atlas of Abandoned Places' may be the most personal of all the urban exploration photography compendiums published by the Jonglez publishing house. “I selected the 50 most spectacular photos from nearly 10 photographers of abandoned places that I know personally. I also wanted to include countries for which we didn’t have a book,” explained Thomas Jonglez, founder of the label, in an interview with EL PAÍS. The Tomb of Bibi Jawindi, located in Uch Sarif (southern Punjab), perfectly embodies this aspiration. Captured here by photographer Terence Abela, the tomb was built in 1493 by the Iranian prince Dilshad in honor of Bibi Jawindi, the great-granddaughter of a renowned Sufi saint. Richly decorated and crowned with a magnificent dome, the tomb’s deterioration is the result of neglect and the harsh climatic conditions of the region. Torrential floods in 1817 swept away half of the structure and part of the surrounding enclosure. Additional factors such as humidity, salt infiltration, and erosion have further damaged the site. The Pakistani government has undertaken conservation efforts to preserve the tomb.Terence Abela (EDITORIAL JONGLEZ)

Cement Factory (Catalonia, Spain). The pages of 'The Atlas of Abandoned Places' also feature unidentified sites, in true 'urbex' fashion. One such site is a cement factory, about which photographer and writer Jeremy Chamot Rossi provides few details. He notes only that it is one of many abandoned cement factories scattered along the Catalan coast. “It is well known among urban exploration enthusiasts,” he says. In recent years, the site has been repurposed as a filming location for commercials and music videos. There is a clear sense of advocacy in this and other entries in 'The Atlas of Abandoned Places,' which carries a message urging the preservation and protection of cultural heritage. “Much of our architectural heritage often fades into oblivion around the world. Many treasures are dismissed as worthless relics of a bygone era,” laments Chamot Rossi.The book serves as a reminder of the need to safeguard the architectural landmarks that constitute the cultural wealth of our planet. Jeremy Chamot Rossi (EDITORIAL JONGLEZ)

Tbilisi funicular station (Georgia). Georgia came under Soviet influence in 1921, quickly becoming a popular destination for the Russian intelligentsia, synonymous with leisure and indulgence. From dancing to fine dining, it offered a wide range of pleasures. Evidence of this golden age remains in places like the Tskaltubo sanatoriums, which, despite their deterioration, still stand as testaments to the era’s grandeur. Today, many of these establishments are occupied by refugees fleeing conflicts in Abkhazia, as noted in 'The Atlas of Abandoned Places.' Another relic of this period is the Tbilisi funicular, the oldest of its kind in the capital, as captured in this image by Terence Abela. Built in 1903, the funicular once transported up to 500,000 people annually from the center of Tbilisi to the heights of Mtatsminda Park. It remained in operation until 1990, when a tragic accident claimed the lives of 20 people and injured 15 others. A restoration project is currently underway to revive this historic landmark.Terence Abela (EDITORIAL JONGLEZ)

Stack Rock Fort (Wales, U.K.). The photograph depicts Stack Rock Fort, a massive stone defensive battery located on a rocky island near Milford Haven in Pembrokeshire. As photographer Matt Emmett explains, the fort was built in two stages. Initially, it was a Martello-type fort, typical of the British Empire’s 19th-century coastal defenses, strategically positioned at the mouth of the inlet leading to the important port of Pembroke Dock. In 1859, as fears of a French invasion grew, Britain reinforced its coastal defenses, and Stack Rock Fort was expanded into the larger, circular structure seen today. The fort, complete with living quarters for 154 soldiers and 54 heavy guns, was never used in warfare. Its massive granite casemates and embrasures, designed to protect the artillery, remained silent through the years. Today, the fort is an isolated ruin, gradually being reclaimed by nature. In 2021, the site was handed over to the Anoniiem collective, who have invited photographers to explore and document the location. Plans are underway to eventually open the fort to urban exploration enthusiasts.Matt Emmett (EDITORIAL JONGLEZ)

Cooling Tower in Monceau-sur-Sambre (Belgium). Before founding the Jonglez publishing house in 2003, Thomas Jonglez spent seven years working for a stainless steel company. “When I visited the industrial plants, I was very impressed,” he recalls. This experience sparked his appreciation for disused factories and industrial landscapes, which feature prominently in the urbex books he has since published. 'The Atlas of Abandoned Places' includes, for example, this cooling tower in the town of Monceau-sur-Sambre. “Some places quickly become favorites among the explorer and photographer community,” says Matt Emmett, the photographer behind the image featured in the book. “The building, located in a bustling industrial town in central Belgium, offers an exciting and truly sensory experience that more than justifies its immense popularity.” The cooling tower sits beside an abandoned power station, separated by a canal and sluice. Its function was to cool and recirculate water that was boiled to produce the steam that powered the station’s turbines. Matt Emmett (EDITORIAL JONGLEZ)

Terre Rouge (Luxembourg). Built in 1907, this ore stockpile is the last remnant of a massive steelworks that closed in 1977. Situated on the edge of an industrial estate and next to a disused railway track, the site is a poignant reminder of the area's industrial past. “Its demolition seems imminent, if it hasn’t already taken place,” notes Francis Meslet, the photographer of the image. “However, some of the distinctive steel gantry structures will be preserved and relocated,” he adds. "After crossing the inner pond, we find ourselves in a kind of tunnel 150 to 200 meters long, separated by a pool of stagnant water running its entire length. On either side are two narrow paths. The water is crystal clear and reflects the machinery that still remains. It's quite a sight to behold,” Meslet describes. The site is well known among photographers, and while access is seemingly straightforward, it is dangerous, especially when venturing into the upper levels. It also served as the location for a chase sequence in the French film 'Crimson Rivers II: Angels of the Apocalypse.'Francis Meslet (EDITORIAL JONGLEZ)

The Kelenföld power plant (Hungary). 'The Atlas of Abandoned Places' sets itself apart from other urban exploration compilations by clearly identifying many of the sites it explores, providing both name and location. However, this does not mean they are safe or easy to visit. Roman Robroek, the photographer of this image, was only permitted to document a small portion of the vast Kelenföld power plant, which is divided into an abandoned section and a portion still in use, managed by a private company. More than a century old, the power plant was once the most modern in Europe and is considered a jewel of Hungarian industrial heritage. Its control room, decommissioned since 2005, is, by Robroek’s account, “the most beautiful my eyes have ever seen,” due to its impressive art deco glass ceiling. Designed in 1927 by architects Kálmán Reichl and Virgil Borbíró, the structure is legally protected, preventing its demolition but also discouraging renovation. Roman Robroek (EDITORIAL JONGLEZ)

Subway reservoirs in London. The cisterns beneath Finsbury Park, designed to collect and store water in this disused Victorian reservoir, feature a watertight lining and are built underground to prevent sunlight from fostering algae growth. They are part of what is often referred to as the “hidden city,” a network of secretive spaces in London that attracts the curious and adventurous. Matt Emmett, the photographer of the image and author of the accompanying text, describes how, "once the sun has set, explorers silently descend shafts and tunnels filled with ladders, lighting their torches before disappearing into the darkness." London is known for having one of the largest subway networks in the U.K., but it also harbors service tunnels, bunkers, basements, and more secret areas linked to the government and intelligence services. “There is something visceral, exciting, and secret about exploring the depths of everyday human existence, while those above remain oblivious to the world hidden beneath their feet,” Emmett reflects.Matt Emmett (EDITORIAL JONGLEZ)

Gunkanjima (Japan). Hashima Island, more commonly known as Gunkanjima (Battleship Island) due to its resemblance to a military warship, conceals an abandoned city behind its imposing wall. “Mining began in 1890 when Mitsubishi purchased the island,” shares Jordy Meow, a software engineer and the photographer of this image. Workers and their families settled there, and by 1959, the island had nearly 8,000 inhabitants living on just 6.3 hectares. “It had the highest population density in the world at that time,” Meow notes. The island boasted apartment blocks, schools, a hospital, cinema, sanctuary, stores, and even a brothel. In 1974, when the coal mine closed, Gunkanjima became deserted. It remained uninhabited until the early 2010s, when access was permitted once again. The island has served as the backdrop for films such as 'Skyfall' (from the James Bond franchise) and 'Inception' by director Christopher Nolan. The nearby city of Nagasaki, just three miles away, now offers tours to explore a small part of the island.Jordy Meow (EDITORIAL JONGLEZ)

Palazzo Athena (Lombardy, Italy). Acquired in the early 20th century by Silvio Strumia, a prominent entrepreneur in the silk industry, Palazzo Athena is a vast neoclassical mansion. According to the photographer, Robin Brinaert, the mansion is built around a grand elliptical hall spanning two levels, crowned by a dome with a skylight. "The dome, adorned with white stucco caryatids, is supported by 16 Corinthian columns. Each column bears the insignia of a craft or profession," Brinaert notes. “Could this be a subtle tribute to the workers the industrialist employed between 1920 and 1950?” The mansion's gardens once housed a spinning mill, recognizable by its tall chimney, which employed many local women. The mill was destroyed by fire in 1992, just a few years after its closure. Robin Brinaert (EDITORIAL JONGLEZ)