Amid the mesmerizing scenery of the Black Forest in Germany lie the ruins of All Saint’s Abbey. The abbey was founded in 1192 and in time became one of the most important religious and cultural institutions in the area. Throughout the following centuries, big fires ruined parts of the abbey, until the final one in 1804 damaged it irreversibly.
If you visit the area today you could find a few other buildings surrounding the ruins of the abbey, among which are a chapel, a café, and a museum.
The Ghost Town of Calico in California
Calico used to be an active, up-and-running mining town in the country of San Bernadino, California. It was founded in 1881 only to be abandoned soon after, in the middle of the 1890s, after a major decrease in the value of silver.
In the 1950s, almost all buildings in the now-ghost-town were restored and it was officially defined as a historical landmark. Today, Calico continues to be a tourist attraction and offers restaurants, shops, hiking trails, and even camping sites.
The Tahawus Ghost Town in the Adirondacks
It turns out that other than the incredible view of blue lakes and green forests they offer, the Adirondack Mountains also have their very own ghost town called Tahawus. Ghost village, to be precise – and the home in the image is one of its abandoned buildings.
Founded in the 1820s for mining purposes, the village was abandoned by residents twice – once in 1858, and later again in 1989. Today, visitors can see the few remnants left of ghostly Tahawus.
The Ta Prohm Temple in Cambodia
The Ta Prohm temple in Siem Reap, Cambodia was founded and built in the late 12th century as a Mahayana Buddhist monastery and university. What's unique about it is, it was preserved almost impeccably and is very similar today to what it looked like back then.
Declared a UNESCO World Heritage site, it's a highly visited tourist site. Most of the temple complex has been restored and some parts have been thoroughly reconstructed. As the image shows, it blends in beautifully with the jungle around it.
The Bodiam Castle in England
This super ancient, lovely-looking castle was built in the 1380s by Sir Edward Dallingridge and his wife Elizabeth, who were both thoroughly immersed in the English high society of the time. Think "Bridgerton" but real. And a few centuries older.
While the inside of the medieval castle was ruined, its exteriors survived wonderfully, remaining a fascinating attraction for archeologists, and later on for tourists.