Germany 2026 – The Three-Day GDR Tour

Highlights From This Trip

• 3 Days
• ~600 miles driven
• 10 Locations Photographed
• ~150 photographs
• Explored remnants of the old GDR
• Industrial ruins: powerplant and pottery factory
• Abandoned prison, and police training school

INTRO

Exploring traces of the old German Democratic Republic (GDR)

Early in my trip I explored an abandoned ballroom and attached guesthouse. Sadly in recent years, many of the ballrooms have been demolished. On previous trips I would visit several ballrooms, but this time only one was on my itinerary. Large arched windows illuminated the bright hall and stage, while a large chandelier hung from the ceiling. Off to one side, a seating area had become a pocket of natural decay thanks to a leaking roof. The retro orange sofa stood on rotting floorboards, garnished with a mossy rug!

Every town in East Germany had at least one ballroom during the German Democratic Republic era. Often these were located along old highways and often had associated guesthouses and inns. These venues provided spaces for residents to meet, socialise, and dance. Changing demographics after the 1990 reunification caused many closures

I also visited an old hotel, tucked away in a quiet little spa town. The hotel survived the shifts in the wake of the reunification, closing down around 15 years ago. Inside I discovered the restaurant and bedrooms, all neatly set and seemingly frozen in time. While well preserved during my visit, a leaking roof has started to let decay creep in on the uppermost floor.

Exploring the Industrial Remains of East Germany

One of my favourite sites on the tour was the ruins of a large steelworks. I managed to visit two parts of the site, despite the demolition of much of it. First, I visited the old water distribution centre (or pump house). This building was a wonderful mix of industry and reclamation by nature. Endless runs of pipes and valves, draped with encroaching plants entering through doors and skylights. Next I visited the old power plant in the adjacent building. Happily, it was still filled with plenty of steam turbines and control panels to keep me joyfully shooting as the sun set and I wound up my day’s adventure.

Another memorable location I visited was a large, abandoned pottery factory. My photo session began in the mould storage room, where thousands of plaster moulds sat on wooden shelves. The scene reminded me of the many abandoned factories around Stoke-on-Trent, back home in England.

Law & Order – An abandoned police school and GDR prison

The first stop on the trip was an old police training academy, which had plenty of treasures to explore. The highlight was the main theatre, with rows of neat red velvet folding chairs. The projectionist booth still houses lamps, always a bonus! I spent a few hours exploring the large building photographing rooms, corridors and stairways.

The final stop of the road trip led to an abandoned prison. Prisons usually have difficult entry points. The location rewarded my patience, and I quickly found a viable way inside. I spent several hours exploring multiple floors of intact cell blocks, concluding the short German tour.

What 35mm Film was I shooting this time?

My freezer was full of film last year, so I have been steadily shooting through the collection to make way for new stocks. I thawed out some Kodak Pro Image 100 for this trip, and loaded up my Zenit-E for yet another adventure!

Other Highlights From My East Germany 2026 Road Trip

• A historic brewery containing brewing vats and spiral staircases
• A small family-run brush factory, collapsing and overgrown with ferns
• A burnt-out train depot that provided a post-apocalyptic backdrop

More behind-the-scenes photos from my Germany 2026 Road Trip(s)

Thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoyed this road trip blog! Here are the rest of the behind-the-scenes snaps and preview photos from this trip, see you next time <3.