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Hospitals are often places most people dread. Unless you're a healthcare worker, the thought of navigating their sterile, antiseptic-scented corridors is enough to make anyone hesitant. But should you ever find yourself in one, you can rest assured that you'll be cared for by attentive nurses and surrounded by fresh, clean linens.
However, not all hospitals offer such comforting experiences. In fact, the ten former medical centers listed here are places you’d certainly want to avoid, whether you’re sick or perfectly healthy. So, let's take a walk through these 10 eerie, abandoned hospitals in Europe.
10. Brestovac Sanatorium
Perched high on the slopes of Mt. Medvednica, just outside Zagreb, Croatia, lie the ruins of a sanatorium believed to be haunted. Built in the early 1900s, Brestovac was designed to treat one of the deadliest diseases in Europe at the time—tuberculosis, also known as the “White Plague.” The first patients were admitted in 1909, and the facility remained operational until 1968, when advances in medicine provided more effective treatments for tuberculosis, rendering many sanatoriums obsolete.
Brestovac was conceived and constructed by a local man named Milivoj Dezman, a physician by profession. However, his motivation for founding the sanatorium wasn’t solely driven by his medical background.
At the time, a Croatian actress named Ljerka Sram enjoyed great fame, and Milivoj knew her from his childhood. Though they lost touch for years, upon witnessing her performance for the first time, he was instantly captivated. Despite her promise to wait for him to finish his medical studies, she ended up marrying another man.
To cope with his heartbreak, Milivoj began writing plays, imagining Ljerka as the lead actress in every production. Eventually, her marriage fell apart, and she moved in with Milivoj.
Sadly, Milivoj’s dreams were short-lived. Shortly after Ljerka moved in with him, she was diagnosed with tuberculosis. Once again, demonstrating his unwavering devotion, Milivoj used his influence to establish Brestovac Sanatorium, hoping to cure her illness. Despite his close care and efforts, Ljerka passed away in late 1913 at the age of 39. It is said she died in his arms.
9. Beelitz Heilstatten
Located just outside Berlin, a hospital was established 121 years ago, only to be left to deteriorate over the last 25 years.
Beelitz was once the largest hospital in the world dedicated to treating lung diseases. The facility consisted of 60 buildings spread across 494 acres (200 hectares) of lush gardens. Within its first 25 years, the hospital cared for over 110,000 patients. During World War I, it served as a military hospital.
Following the war, Beelitz remained abandoned for some time before being repurposed as a military hospital once more during World War II. The hospital was eventually seized by the Soviet army, where it remained under occupation for 50 years, before being permanently abandoned in 1995. Though some sections have been revived and repurposed, the majority of the buildings are in a state of disrepair.
8. Zofiówka Sanatorium
Zofiówka Sanatorium was established in 1908 by the Society for the Protection of Mentally Ill Jews, funded through donations from Zofia Endelman.
Originally, Zofiówka served as a sanatorium for Polish Jews suffering from mental health issues. It was built on 74 acres (30 hectares) of land and employed 994 staff at its peak. The facility utilized more contemporary treatment methods of the time, such as electroshock therapy, but over time, its use shifted to far darker purposes.
Zofiówka became the sole psychiatric institution for Jewish patients in all of occupied Poland. The conditions were horrific, with rampant disease and starvation claiming the lives of many, including 210 patients. Later, it was repurposed to raise Polish children in an effort to assimilate them.
As the war ended, the hospital was abandoned. Over the years, it was converted to treat tuberculosis, addicts, and young people with mental health issues before finally closing its doors in the mid-1990s.
7. Mombello Sanatorium
Situated in Limbiate, just outside Milan, are the ruins of Mombello Psychiatric Hospital, also known as Giuseppe Antonini Psychiatric Hospital, named after one of its most influential directors. The hospital complex covers almost 10 acres (4 hectares) and has its origins in the early Middle Ages, when it was initially constructed as a fortress.
Founded in 1865, this facility replaced Milan’s primary psychiatric hospital. The first group of patients, numbering 300, were relocated in 1867. As time passed, it became the largest psychiatric institution in the region, and when Senavre closed its doors in 1878, the number of patients had surpassed 1,000.
During World War I, the former psychiatric facility allocated two wards to treat soldiers suffering from the psychological scars of war. After the closure of asylums in Venice, a ward was built to accommodate the displaced Venetians, later repurposed to house refugees from World War II.
Today, the site lies in ruins, heavily vandalized, with all valuables stripped from the buildings long ago.
6. Sanatorio de Mont’ lto
Also referred to as Sanatorio de Valongo, it was constructed during the Estado Novo regime in São Pedro da Cova, Portugal. The sanatorium operated from 1958 until 1975, after which it has remained abandoned ever since.
In 1899, the Portuguese queen founded the National Institute of Assistance to Tuberculosis, leading to the creation of several sanatoriums in the region, including Moltalto. However, construction didn’t commence until 1932, and it took another 25 years to complete. By the time the 1970s arrived, tuberculosis was much easier to treat, leaving very few patients. Although there were initial plans to convert it into a psychiatric hospital, this never materialized. The building was soon looted and largely destroyed by fire. More recently, there were proposals to convert it into a youth hostel, but once again, these plans fell through.
5. Heilstatte Grabowsee
Grabowsee, located north of Berlin in Germany, housed a large complex of 30 buildings. Initially, it functioned as a test facility to explore whether fresh country air could aid in the treatment of respiratory issues. After proving this theory, the hospital expanded to accommodate 300 patients.
Founded by the German Red Cross in 1896, the facility's final occupants were the Soviet army, who used it as a military hospital. Since German reunification, the site has been abandoned. Like many former sanatoriums, no efforts have been made to preserve the structures, and all valuable materials have been stripped away as nature overtakes the deteriorating buildings.
4. Sanatoria Sierra Espuna
The Sierra Espuna Sanatorium is located in Murcia, Spain. It was initially constructed as a quarantine facility in the early 1900s to isolate leprosy and tuberculosis patients from the rest of the population. The clean, fresh air in the Sierra was considered the most effective remedy at the time. Though construction started in 1913, the building wasn’t completed until 1931.
At its peak, the hospital accommodated 200 patients and employed up to 50 staff members. In 1943, the discovery of streptomycin brought about a shift in tuberculosis treatment, and many patients previously struggling with respiratory conditions were discharged. The remaining patients were moved to another hospital, and Sierra Espuna was repurposed as an orphanage.
By 1961, financial difficulties led to the abandonment of the orphanage, and the site became associated with eerie ghost stories. Plans to turn the facility into a youth hostel were proposed, but due to limited funding, only one wing was refurbished, and the location failed to attract significant tourism.
3. Abbots Sanatorium
Located on Tenerife in the Canary Islands, Abbots Sanatorium served as a refuge for thousands of leprosy patients. The tropical climate and widespread poverty in the Canary Islands contributed to the spread of infectious diseases. While leprosy never reached a pandemic level, it was still a major concern, and most leprosy patients were isolated from the rest of the population.
The Cabildo implemented quarantine protocols and initiated plans for a shelter to house patients in isolation. Over the years, the project grew, and patients were transferred to the Hospital de San Lazaro in Gran Canaria, which ominously became known as the 'Valley of Death.'
Unfortunately, control on the island was minimal, leading to further outbreaks. By the 1970s, Tenerife had the highest concentration of leprosy cases in the region, with around 500 patients living on the island.
Designed by architect Jose Enrique Regalado Marrero, construction of the Sanatorium de Abades began in 1943. However, by then, advances in medicine had already made leprosy treatable. The complex consisted of over 40 buildings, including a school and a crematorium. It remains a mystery why such a significant amount of money was spent building a leper colony at a time when the World Health Organization was advocating for their closure.
Unsurprisingly, the sanatorium never housed any leprosy patients. Instead, it was briefly used as a military facility before being abandoned. It currently sits empty in the middle of the island, now owned by a private contractor with plans for its development.
2. Sanatorium Energy
Sanatorium Energy in Russia is infamous for its dark history and alleged hauntings. Construction commenced in 1963, and it remained operational until 2009. One fateful day, a fire ravaged one of the buildings, claiming the lives of at least 12 patients, if not more. All that remains from the tragedy is the bare skeletal frame of the building and a set of free-standing grand palace stairs.
Currently, a newer building sits on the site of the former sanatorium, serving as a small guesthouse for tourists. While much of the abandoned area has been partially demolished, remnants such as walls and foundations still dot the landscape. The area remains a popular spot for locals to fish and swim, with the ruins becoming an integral part of daily life.
1. Khovrinskaya Hospital
Often called the Umbrella Building because of its striking resemblance to the Umbrella Corporation headquarters from the film Resident Evil, Moscow’s Khovrinskaya Hospital began construction in 1980. However, the project was halted in 1985 due to the poor terrain, as it was built on swampy ground, causing the lower floors to flood. Historical maps show that the location was once a cemetery.
The hospital was designed to accommodate up to 1,300 patients and spanned 6 acres (2.4 hectares) of land. At one point, rescue services used the site for training. Over time, it became a magnet for looters and vandals, leading to the installation of heavy security to protect the building.
