Waldhaus Buch

Mar 8, 201485 comments

Memories of medicine’s murderous past

Funny how the nurse becomes the patient. Now it’s Waldhaus Buch that needs care, and quick! Abandoned in 1992, the former tuberculosis sanatorium has toiled through the intervening years with no cure in sight. It’s still coming to terms with its sinister past.

But we’ll start at the beginning, when Berlin was finding its feet as the capital of the newly formed German Empire, expanding at a ferocious rate while diseases like tuberculosis and typhoid were doing their best to keep pace.

Buch, an idyllic little village out in the country with its unpolluted air, clear waters and abundant trees, was seen as a haven at a time when sanatoriums were springing up like mushrooms wherever mushrooms sprang up – away from the pollution of the city.

You already had Heilstätten with the likes of Beelitz and Grabowsee to name but a couple, and Buch soon played its part. Waldhaus Buch, the first hospital, was finished in 1903 and more were added, putting it among Europe’s largest hospital complexes by 1930.

At the time, the Waldhaus was called the ‘Heimstätte für männliche Brustkranke’ (Homestead for men with chest illnesses). Planning started in 1899 and construction began two years later. It was built to a baroque style in a T-shape with three wings.

The impressive hallway is modeled on the courtyard of an Italian Renaissance palace, with its vaulted ceiling, balustrades and columns, along with sculptures and floral motives along the balustrades. It’s very pretty.

The first of 150 patients with TB arrived in late summer 1905, apparently. It wasn’t until July 21st, 1927 that it became officially known as Waldhaus Buch, and it continued as a sanatorium for TB patients until the war, before becoming a military hospital for the Luftwaffe in 1942.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It seems that the original patients fell victim to the Nazis’ “euthanasia program,” which began by killing children.

On March 28 and 30, 1940, the first physically and mentally ill patients from Buch were transported to the “euthanasia centers” of Bernburg und Brandenburg. One of the Buch clinics had to close seven months later due to a lack of patients.

Patients from other clinics around the country were ferried through Buch to be murdered too.

Another wave of killings under the “Aktion Brandt” scheme from 1943 just cleared patients to make way for wounded soldiers. Why have sick and useless people taking up valuable beds when fighting men could be repaired to carry on fighting?

Altogether, around 200,000 people were “euthanized” or removed from life under these schemes. The Nazis were a practical if murderous bunch and they saw the advantages in mass murder.

Some of their victims’ brains found their way back to Buch for research.

Apparently 698 murdered patients’ brains were delivered to the Buch-based Kaiser Wilhelm Institute for Brain Research (Institut für Hirnforschung), where Julius Hallervorden carried out his work with the help of Hugo Spatz. A true professional, Hallervorden witnessed children being exterminated at the Brandenburg killing center on October 28th, 1940 to become his unwitting donors.

Hallervorden continued as a director of the Max Planck Institute for Brain Research, (as it was renamed in the meantime) in Gießen after the war and was even awarded the Federal Cross of Merit in 1956. I mean, what the fuck? This fucker went through more brains than your average zombie does in a lifetime. He lived to the ripe old age of 82.

“Even after 1945 Hallervorden never saw his actions as wrong,” the Süddeutsche Zeitung wrote in 2007.

It cointinued: “In a letter to the president of the international court of justice in Nuremberg dated Feb. 11, 1946, he wrote: ‘I never had the least to do with the process of euthanasia. I’ve consistently condemned it and would have resigned if I were still a psychiatrist at the time. At least I didn’t think I was morally in a worse position than an anatomist who seeks the body of an executed person because he needs the freshest possible test material.’”

Waldhaus Buch, meanwhile, became an orthopedic hospital after the war and was integrated with the other four hospital complexes to form the Berlin-Buch Municipal Hospital in 1963. The whole thing had around 3,700 beds, again making it one of the largest health care facilities in Europe.

The fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 seems to have spelled the end, as it did for pretty much anything East German.

Buch had 40 clinics, 4,200 staff and up to 4,000 patients at that time, but a period of downsizing and closures followed and it was only downhill from there.

The Waldhaus closed in 1992 and has been empty ever since. The rest shut down in the meantime, most have already been converted into fancy apartments. More than 500 are planned altogether.

The state-owned Liegenschaftsfonds Berlin has the Waldhaus earmarked for a ‘Researchers’ Castle’ apparently, as an educational site for life sciences with an exhibition and information center to be known far and wide for its innovation and food for thought. Buch will always provide food for thought.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Waldhaus Buch Abandoned Berlin 2493

LOCATION AND ACCESS (HOW TO FIND GUIDE)

  • What: Waldhaus Buch, former tuberculosis sanatorium, military hospital during the war, and then orthopedic hospital. It was just one clinic/hospital in a complex said at times to be Europe’s biggest.
  • Where: Alt-Buch 74, 13125 Berlin, Germany
  • How to get there: Get the S2 S-Bahn from Friedrichstraße or Bornholmer Straße to Buch, turn right out of the station, walk along Wiltbergstraße and take your first left onto Alt-Buch. Walk along until you hit Waldhaus Buch on your left. It will be the huge abandoned-looking building hiding behind trees, preceded by a fine house, which appears to be occupied by humans, and another ruin, which is not.
    You could also cut through the woods upon leaving the S-Bahnhof and get hopelessly lost like I did, before emerging, cursing, on a street miles away and starting again.
    Here’s a map so you don’t get lost, or so you can plan getting lost. You’re not lost if your plan on getting lost goes exactly to plan though.
  • Getting in: Walk up past the “Am Stener Berg” bus stop and you’ll find a little overgrown laneway on your left. The fence is not worthy of the title ‘fence’ and easily overcome. Now, I’m not sure I can recommend getting into the Waldhaus Buch, simply because it was the hardest place I* ever managed to get into and I only barely made it back out again. All the windows are sealed with those metal shields they use when they’re determined no one should get in any more. I managed to squeeze in through a gap above two of the shields covering a doorway at the back, just big enough for my ribcage and spine to jam through. Fuck it was hard! And my ribs let me know for days afterward. Getting out was ten times harder because of the unfavorable angles involved with bars blocking the way inside. If you do decide to try this method, let someone know you’re going so they can ring emergency services to get you out again.
  • When to go: Go during the day so you can see the place. Nighttime is not an option, especially if you’re determined to get inside. You won’t be able to fit your beer through the gap for a start.
  • Difficulty rating: 9/10. The only reason I’m not saying 10/10 is because I* managed to get in. So it’s not impossible. 
  • Who to bring: Someone skinny. Or a mouse with a miniature camera. Better still, a mouse who’s handy with bolts and spanners who can remove one of the metal shields to let you in.
  • What to bring: Camera, torch, sandwiches, refreshments – preferably alcoholic refreshments – and the aforementioned mouse.
  • Dangers: The building’s in pretty good condition, presumably because so much effort has been made to preserve it and stop people getting in. (You can tell there’s money to be made.) So no need to worry unduly about ceilings falling on your head. Watch out for security though. I* went there twice in the space of a week and noticed several fresh tire marks on the second occasion. It looks like someone is doing the rounds from time to time, but they’re obviously too lazy to get off their fat arses and get out of the car. Still, listen out for approaching vehicles and security goons. Someone still cares for the place.

*Customary disclaimer. I is not me, nor anyone that can be held responsible for the words preceding this disclaimer.

Insanatoriums

Heilstätte Grabowsee

Heilstätte Grabowsee

Lurking in the shadows of the forest, Heilstätte Grabowsee creaks and groans through the gloom, sighing with echoes of the past as it sinks into decay.

Heilstätten Hohenlychen

Heilstätten Hohenlychen

Horrific experiments on concentration camp prisoners were carried out at Heilstätten Hohenlychen, formerly a complex of sanatoriums, then military hospital.

Beelitz-Heilstätten

Beelitz-Heilstätten

Hitler and Honecker were among Beelitz-Heilstätten’s famous patients. The former TB sanatorium became the largest Soviet military hospital outside the USSR.

85 Comments

  1. bla

    This place looks great, would like to see it myself.. But I guess I wouldn’t fit through the mentioned space 😉 So I keep looking at your photos.. 🙂

    Reply
  2. Anonymous

    Hi,
    First of all, I must say some words about the way you publish those sensetive locations… we were in there some years ago… a few times and it is hard to see those fu**in new graffitis and distortion ever since. We are proudly save the real names of those places and other do so too cause it is a kind of codex you have, a kind of responsibility… Why do you name the places, even with the full adresses? And also about how to get in..? There is really no need for that, if you like to share with someone trustable, you can do so but we all know about those sprayers who are searching for just those buildings where they can “train” themselves without thinking and respecting the precious architecture or the heavy history behind it… please think about deleting the details and maps for your locations, it is really enough to share your photos, don’t you think? What is your personal advantage of this?

    We love this location very much and we always try to avoid all those vandalists there, of course also on all other abandoned places… we do not need an urbex tourism!

    Greets from Berlin

    H.

    Reply
  3. Anonymous

    Well thats the end of that every vandal in town will be there and won’t be long before nothing is left, true urban explorers don’t give out where and how to get in, great job well done…

    Reply
  4. Spudnik

    Thanks for your comment. I’ve given my reasons often enough before. I’m not going to keep writing the same stuff. Have a look at the “about” page if you want to know more.
    As an aside, you say you were here a few years ago and that it’s hard for you to see the graffiti and damage done in the meantime. You’ve just showed the vandals will do their business regardless of whether locations are published or not – they didn’t wait for me to publish the location.
    My reasoning is that other people should enjoy these places before it’s too late, but I’ve written all this before…

    Reply
  5. Anonymous

    I have been there yesterday with a friend. Great place, I loved the top floor / attic and also the huge underground. Some tunnels led us 200/300m away from the house, we heard the cars above us – that was awesome.

    The skyscraper ruin right next to it is nice as well. It is possible to get on the roof, so we enjoyed the sun quite a bit.

    Thanks a lot for this one.

    Reply
  6. Anonymous

    Hey, just went there today with one friend. With much effort (and with the help of a native who was having some good time around with his girlfriend), we finally managed to open a door at the back of the building. So now it’s a 2/10 and it’s really worth it.

    Thanks a lot for your blog.

    Reply
  7. Anonymous

    Today I went there with a friend. The place is a fortress now: every door and window is sealed. I read that there’s a door on the back. Bad luck for us there were people cutting the trees all around the place so we couldn’t explore and in the end we went away because it was clear that they didn’t appreciate us being around. Next time! Peace. Guido

    Reply
  8. Unknown

    We tried today, but it was the same result: everything was sealed. Some new bars on some windows and one
    door. We have to have an eye on it, perhaps someone has the power to open again one door. the new building
    behind is accessible…there is an open door. better to have a torch because there are holes in the floor at the
    entrance…you can see some nice graffitis and the damages are bearable….no zombies in this building!!

    Reply
  9. Anonymous

    Alright man! I managed to squeeze though the crack and unbolt the door and losin’ up a window at the back (Oba is sprayed on it) So unless there quick at fixing it, it now has a rating of about 1/10 because u can just move the door and walk on in (put please put it back so it looks good) I don’t know if everyone should know this or not? so if not just take this comment down, Otherwise Enjoy!

    Reply
  10. Anonymous

    Also don’t squeeze through the tiny broken window at the back (even if u fit) u only end up in a elevator shaft u cant get out off, but once ur inside u can see into it.
    did u see the attic?

    Reply
  11. Unknown

    There’s now a possibility to get in easily. One of the metal plate on a door has been removed. You can see it on the right side on the back. I wouldn’t recommend to go to the basement without proper equipment, a strong smell of something is emaning from there. Really beautiful place tho.
    It is also possible to get in the new building, right behind Waldhaus buch. It’s an interesting place too. You can maybe find child’s drawings in some rooms, a picture of a woman on the wall and some interesting things on the floor. And it’s really beautiful when you get on the roof to look at the sun going down.
    Just follow the abandonned skis to get in and you’ll see an open door to the basement. Just go to the left once you’re in.

    Thanks for sharing, it was really interesting to go there.

    Reply
  12. Unknown

    Hey, we went there today and there is no way to get in to the two main buildings. All sealed with steel plates. Maybe if you got an Skeleton key you’re able to open the door on the back. The two rear buildings are open but very destroyed. Beware of the security guard who makes his rounds there.

    Reply
  13. Anonymous

    Been there last weekend ( 1 Juni 2014). There is 1 steel plate thats gone so you can enter the old building. Very interesting espesially the basement.

    Reply
  14. Anonymous

    we have been there 2 weeks ago (6. Juni 14). we opend one of the panels at the backside of the main building using a prybar and forceps.
    (Its the light-grey one next to the basement entry). I dont know how fast they are fixing it, but if your lucky you might still get an easy access.
    We made a shooting there and had quite an amount of equipment with us so we needed a bigger entry. There was a second group of people that found there way in through a window in the basement. unfortunately i cant tell where this one is…

    Reply
  15. Per

    Went there last week just to find that it was all sealed up, found one plate that looked very new so i guess i was a week or so too late. Very sad, the building looked amazing.

    Reply
  16. Anonymous

    After I’ve readed all the reports here, I went there with the thought I wouldn’t get in. But I did! Went there yesterday and found a way in. 🙂 There’s one metal plate which is not fixed. It’s a fantastic place…one of the best preserved places I’ve ever seen. Without the protection of the metal plates, it won’t look like this. The “abblätternde Farbe”, of which I’m always a fan, is really great inside the building. But I must add, that I couldn’t really enjoy the stay 100%, because I was afraid someone will fix the metal plate while I’m inside. I’ve never had this feeling in other buildings before….but the reports above sound like someone controlls the plates and fixes the opened ones. So there was always the thought in my mind – you’re alone, you’re a wife, you wouldn’t be able to open a plate if everything is closed. But fortunately this worst case doesn’t come true and I spend there 1,5 hour. Thank you for this great tip! Without your side I wouldn’t know that Waldhaus Buch exists.

    Reply
  17. Spudnik

    Thank you! I’m glad you made it! I also had the same feeling when I was there – but now you can relax and enjoy it. You made it! 🙂

    Reply
  18. Anonymous

    Went there a few days ago – but we had to climb since the aforementioned plate was fixed again. The place is truly in good shape and it seems there is a car driving around from time to time. But it’s a good thing , because the former “Arbeitstherapie” section is completely wracked due to vandalism.
    Also, when you check the attic you will see there are construction works going on. New tiles and stairs are being put in and the roofing is also being repaired from time to time.

    Reply
  19. Anonymous

    We went to Buch today. There was a window open round the back – and a ladder lying around in the vicinity, to make access even easier.
    That being said, on our way out we barely managed to sneak out past a police patrol car. Apparently, according to a fellow explorer, two police women had been checking the grounds while we were inside the (huge) building. A bit of a scare at the time, but absolutely worth the experience and the photos. Still, some vigilance while being inside/on the grounds seems to be key.

    Reply
  20. Anonymous

    went there today, no problems getting in as to of the metal plates on the back side of the building have been removed and are laying around. Also there was no security around, but as usual watch out just in case 😉

    Reply
  21. Anonymous

    First of all we want to thank you for sharing your impressions of these wonderful lost places. We are two girls enjoying photography and now exploring lost buildings, maybe it is becoming our new hobby 😉
    We’re just back home from our little trip to Waldhaus Buch. Unfortunately, we didn’t make it, although we had really high hopes because of the comments before. After we explored two sides of the house without finding a way in, we saw a group of other teenagers. A few seconds later, they suddenly shouted: “The cops are coming! Run!” We were so terrified we just jumped into the bush next to us ^^ Then we ran away, thank god ’cause after we left, a second police car stopped exactly where we got out of the fence.
    Later we met some boys who were also running away from the police. They told us there was no police during the holidays except from Sunday and today, so we had really bad luck! 🙁 But anyway it was an exciting experience! Thanks! We will give it another try.

    Reply
  22. Anonymous

    I was in the building April 17th,2015. Still when it comes to difficulty the 10 is appropriate.
    All metal sheets are back in place and very securely fastened. You have to squeeze through, ending in a cellar and have to crawl under a huge venting system to reach open space. You need flash light.
    I approached the building from the back through the woods. All is still as described above. Be careful and ensure that you know how to get out once beeing in. To get all your equipment in I needed a second person that handed the cameras etc through the opening. If you are not a slender and sporty person, you will not make it.

    Reply
  23. Anonymous

    Me and my friend ventured today, on approach and first glance it looked impossible to get in, but after circling the outskirts of the building testing the metal shutters we found one which was half loose, with my (Hulk) strength it did prise loose and was a nice gap for us to get into, this was done on the metal shutter with (OBA or CBA) on the ramped pathway at the back, it seemed to have been used for a few previous entries, we got this tip from a member above who also comment about the same graffiti we remembered he/she mentioned.

    Its really impressive once inside, i suggest keeping quiet with only a couple of people going, going all the way to the attic was really cool and seeing the whole structure. Theres so much to explore, with helpful arrows on how to get round obviously done by someone in the early days of this abandonedness. The italian renaissance architecture is amazing, especially when you see it open up to the floor to ceiling open section somewhere in the centre. I would say the basement was the most freakiest place, and was difficult to fully explore 1. because of near heart attack from shear panic, and 2 because we didnt have much a flash light, cell block doors, obviously where seriously ill/mental/brain research went on.

    We arrived at 10 am, and left around 1, as we were lingering outside reflecting on the building there was a man also there, he approached us saying ‘Privat” and a few words in German, also sign languaging handculfs. Although he was very nice and said he was the neue hausmeister (new house master/care taker) also telling us abit about the building itself, maybe it would of been a different story if he had caught us just coming out of the building. We were respectful and left the panel we removed pretty solid back up to it, so hopefully the next visitors will be so kind and do the same. “Leave as though you were not there”

    Enjoy, its great.

    Reply
  24. Anonymous

    I went to Waldhaus Buch about a year ago and loved it, and then went again today with my dog. I was able to find my old entrance in, which I have noticed someone inside was kind enough to mark with spray paint signs how to get back to 🙂 It may have been because my dog was barking (a few to many ghosts for him perhaps) but the caretaker was there in the yard when I came out. My dog is adorable and was off the leash so I think he just assumed I was walking the pup somewhere where it wouldn’t bother anyone to have him run around and he let it go, assuming I had not taken puppy into the building. But as I came around the side of the building I did see him waiting by the gate on the phone so I chose a more discrete exit around the back. Just a heads up, this guy does seem to be keen on watching the place so caution is advised. I was also there about 14:00 on a sunday afternoon so maybe luck is bette run the morning for avoiding him

    Reply
  25. Theenoh

    Great pictures, i love them. My daughters kindergarten is right around the corner so i drive by this place very often. and i always wanted to go there. but from reading all this it seems to be pretty hard to get in. maybe i will give it a try some day.

    Reply
  26. Unknown

    Were there with friends today. This place is so big,the halle of the hospital ist so long .very inpressiv! There is an open window to the basement,so it was easy to get into. And the tall building behind ist also interresting,we found an openwindow and staires behind some bushes and climed through. We made it to the rooftop,the sight there is so beautiful.you can even see the Fernsehenturm and Die Welt hot airballon:D

    Reply
  27. Unknown

    Oh yay great pictures you’ve got and thanks for the useful tips and infomation, it helps a lot.

    Reply
  28. Unknown

    Where is the tunnel? Can you describe me the way?i would love to see it:)

    Reply
  29. Anonymous

    Went there with a friend today. There is no way into the building anymore, all windows, doors, or other holes are totally locked. I really was looking forward to visit this place, the pictures looked so nice.
    We would twice around the building and tried to open any barrier, but they didn’t even move a bit.
    If anybody finds a new entrance or tell me there secret entrance, please let me know, i would love to see the inside.

    Reply
  30. Unknown

    I was there yesterday. Took Some amazing photos. Door at the front is open. 1/10 to get in.

    Reply
  31. Unknown

    I went there today, and it was amazingly beautiful and an awesome sight to roam about. All the doors and windows were boarded-up with metal plates. A scaffold was put inside to support the roof in mid March, and that was probably when everything was closed off again. Walking around the building to the far right side we found one open window to the basement where you could get in safely. The building is huge and even the basement has many dark corridors. We became lost and couldn’t find the cellar window again so we created another exit from the ground floor by dismantling one of the metal plates from a window. Might be too high for an entrance though. I’d call 4/10 on getting in/out. Not going alone and bringing a set of screw drivers and maybe some kind of orientation aid is recommended.

    Reply
  32. Emelie

    Went there last week, one of the metal plates on the back side of the building was loose.. so we just walked in. Fascinating building, it was in a pretty good shape, at least when it comes to graffiti and.. human impact. They’ve started to renovate or reconstruct the roof of one wing, but there’s still enough rooms and corridors to see, without going near the workers.

    I’m quite happy about not having read the description of what it used to be before I went, probably would’ve creeped me out knowing what was going on there back in the days…

    Reply
  33. Marc

    was there today…unfortunately, did not manage to get in. Seems very well boarded up (again).

    Reply
  34. Jonas Anonymous

    At the east front side under the 2 window from the right there is an open window where u can get through. It is about 1m x 40cm and u end up in the basement.. pretty vreepy and dark, bring a flashlight! There are many staircases so you can easily get up.

    Reply
  35. JONEZI

    Visited this week end and I concur…all windows and doors blocked… no access as far as I could find….,,!!
    IF ANY ONE KNOWS A WAY IN,,,PLEASE

    Reply
  36. Anonymous

    Friends were there in July and somehow get into, but they turned off tiny, red lamp by their move. Shortly after it some guys were searching area through. After they left, found out it was Polizei with security guys. All ended up on some talk and fortunately nothing more for them, but still better not to go there, as seems like well secured with electronic systems + very responsive security and Polizei.

    Reply
  37. Anonymous

    Now that a scaffolding is put around the building it was very easy to get it in and super safe as well. You just walk to to the top of the scaffolding and work in like a proper construction worker.

    Reply
  38. Moskito-man

    To get inside the area was easy, hopp over the fence, but than no way to go inside the buildings. That was completly secured.
    But the modern ,,skyskraper” is possible

    Die interessanten älteren Gbäude waren komplett von außen gut gesichert. ES gab keine Möglichkeit sich rein zu quetschen.

    Wie konten in den neueren Hochhausblock rein. Da war eine Tür aufgebrochen. Aber das wr nicht so spannend.
    In dem älteren Nebengebäude lohnt es sich in den keller zu gehen.

    Reply
  39. Anonymous

    I went here on Sunday and it was awesome! Near impossible to get in though, had to climb pretty high.

    Inside was beautiful, got some great shots:

    wanderingwolfchild.com/2017/09/04/abandoned-sanatorium-waldhaus-buch-berlin/

    wanderingwolfchild.com/2017/09/04/abandoned-sanatorium-waldhaus-buch-berlin/

    Reply
  40. Anonymous

    Also if anyone is interested I visited the building next door too, you can get on the roof which is pretty amazing!

    Pictures:

    wanderingwolfchild.com/2017/09/05/abandoned-patient-overspill-accommodation-berlin/

    Reply
  41. oddscy

    Hi could someone be so kind and tell me (and others lurking) if the place is still visitable? thanks 🙂

    Reply
  42. Anonymous

    First off, thx Abandoned Berlin! I’ve been following this site/author for a couple of years now and it has led me to some really cool lost places – I managed to find the gas pumps before they were removed.
    Anyways, I was here today and it was pretty cool. All the roooms have been cleared out but the architecture is pretty impressive.
    I had no problem getting in as someone (forcibly) removed the metal panel over a door. I just walzed in.
    The scariest part of the visit, however, were all the NPD propaganda posters I saw walking from the S-Bahn to the asylum. Almost like taking a step back in time. Shivers.

    Reply
  43. Unknown

    Yes it is. See my post below.

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  44. Wioleata

    We was here today. The entrance to the center is no problem, at the beginning you can not see the devastation inside.

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  45. Unknown

    Went there today. All windows and doors are barred up but one window in the basement was open. We slipped through there. It is nice inside but all the furniture has been removed. We were greeted by the security guy, but he was not bothered.

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  46. Max

    We have been there today, the behind door is fully opened you just have to walk around the building to find it (counterclockwise), so no need to slip through basement little window. We didn’t have any issues and haven’t seen any keeper. The place is quite destroyed but still cool and definitely worthy!
    The other more recent building close to the sanatorium doesn’t have any architectural interest, but I highly recommend you to go on the roof top to have an amazing view of the sanatorium and Berlin.

    Reply
  47. Morsch

    We went there yesterday (mid-June ’20) and had no trouble getting in – someone had kicked down the construction site fence (on the righthand backside of the building) and we found the basement window (close by) still open. As has been said, it’s quite empty (looked exactly like the pictures above) but is still definitely worth it. The highlight for me was the magnificent wooden roof structure all the way up in the attic. But please don’t light a fire in there, as some idiots seem to have done it!

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  48. Morgan Roderick

    I was there on 2020-07-05.

    Someone had removed a panel from a window and put up a ladder, making it really easy to get in. It is around a corner from the basement window, which we exited from. Also easy.

    The building is in good shape. Not too much vandalism and not trash everywhere.

    We ran into two other sets of explorers, who were friendly.

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  49. Anonymous

    I was here 2020–08–04. Its really easy if you follow the instructions above. Fence is totally down. Entrance through cellar or window to the left of the opening in the fence. I choose the window, its about two meters up, step on the door that leans to the wall. Be careful about the window, it almost broke when I held on to it. Very beautiful place. But please dont go alone ad I did! Brain ghosts… 🙂

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  50. underthedust

    I did it a couple of days ago. Easy to get inside. Still highly recommended, even if it’s rather dark inside….

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  51. Anonymous

    We were there yesterday! very easy to get in! highly recommend! dont go by yourself its scary haha
    also question: do people get in trouble for posting pictures of it online or not really? i made some really cool videos inside and took nice pics with my analog camera and was wondering if I would get in trouble for sharing them on my platforms

    thank you!!

    Reply
    • Spudnik

      This is not really the place to ask for legal advice on posting pictures online. As you may have noticed, the site is full of pictures that have been posted online.

      Reply
  52. Steve Grimes

    Visited back end of September, solo explorer, easy access, great place, not in the least bit eerie. Great place for photography. I also had a look round that big old high school behind it, unable to find info. On the place though, does anyone have a back story? Cheers

    Reply
    • Spudnik

      Hi Steve. I tried finding out the story behind it before. It may have been a Montessori school. But I couldn’t find many details on it.

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      • Steve Grimes

        Thank you for the info, i shall try to do some digging, it didn’t seem that old

        Reply
  53. Anonymous

    went there today, like all ready said easy access 2/3 way in, also from the main door. nice place !

    Reply
  54. Kevin

    Went there last saturday (07.11.2020) – easy access through one of the open fences (near the bus stop). You can enter the building itself through one of the windows to the cellar at the main entrance. Amazing building with some cool graffiti arts. Also had some spooky experiences in it which I still can’t explain, but maybe it was just my imagination.
    Near the Waldhaus are also some small abandoned buildings, but the big school building seems pretty much destroyed and dangerous due to broken ceilings.

    Reply
  55. hjk

    I’m planning on going there tomorrow morning for recording sound and film by myself, anyone wants to join drinking beer:) ?

    Reply
    • Rosa

      We just arrived! Looking for an entrance now 🙂

      Reply
      • Flosen

        Hey, did you find a way to get in? 🙂 Can you please tell us more? Thank you!

        Reply
        • hjk

          (went there a few days ago) Nothing special, just find the entrance where this webpage shows above, and jump over the fence. Watch out when you actually enter buildings because there must be some other people who also want to have an adventure just like you. I freaked out a few times because other people suddenly came out from the dark and said hello. Funny things is they also freaked out because of me:) Have fun there, entering the dormitory look-like building is pretty exciting.

          Reply
          • Anonymous

            Haha, sounds like fun. Thanks! 🙂

  56. Soul

    I was there twice the last month. It is not anymore that difficult. I followed the instruction and got in through a broken window from the kellar which was really dark but i suppose there is an easier entrance because there were so many groups kf people inside. Also we saw some kids outside. The building is nice well conserved and with a weird feeling for me is one of my fav spots. But feel free to check out the 2 buildings that are directly next to the hospital. The big one has a great rooftop. It is not that great condition but has nice graffities. Enjoy!

    Reply
  57. Leni

    We were there last weekend, slipped under the fence near to a housing estate. There’s plenty of buildings to explore, next to Waldhaus Buch is a “newer” hospital which we encountered first. It’s abandoned too, but less exciting inside. There were two ways to enter the Waldhaus, one on the left hand side (when you come from the back) through the basement and another basically where the main entrance is which we sadly discovered after. It was quite creepy in the basement, but there’s a cool medical pool down there. Very pretty and nice art inside there, definitely worth to go!

    Reply
  58. anonms

    Did anyone in the last few months manage to inside any interesting buildings (like in the photos depicted above)? I might go next week on my birthday but really want to know if it’s possible to get inside – otherwise the day will have been a waste 🙁

    Reply
  59. Jay

    We went there yesterday. Like the other comments said: You can go through the main entrance, since the lower metal plate is off. Another option is to go through the basement. There’s an open lower window on the right side of the building. But to be honest, we had to muster up the courage first to go down there, so I was happy that we did the upper three floors first. The building is amazing and there’s so much to discover. We spent about 1,5 hours in there. Sometimes we heard noises, so we were a bit afraid to run into other people, but we never did. Maybe ghosts (haha). Afterwards we had a picknick out in the sun on the backside of the building. 10/10 would recommend.

    Reply
  60. JLO

    Hey Hey. So….went out here yesterday. Metal plate on the main entrance ( which is right in the centre of the building ) is still off. Really easy to get in. There’s also gaps in all the fences to get into the grounds at the front gate, the front building, the sides and the back. So don’t worry. If you dont get throught the fence at the front right as soon as you get to the driveway, you will walk up the driveway and there is somebody who owns the big beautiful house on the left, and she was there. She wasn’t too bothered tho. The main building is incredible. The arches, the stairwells. The basement is actually pretty scary, so torch or phone light is essential. Really bizarre things down there too that were not designed for comfort! So go down and check it out if your brave enough :).
    Also, there’s a newer building, also abandoned out back. We didn’t go in because we’d spent 3 hours in the oldest one. We got incredible photos. You will too.

    Also note….you should just walk from the Buch S Bahn through the park in Summer. It’s only about a 15 min walk. It’s so gorgeous and it made the day delicious.

    Reply
  61. JustExplore211

    We were there last Saturday. As others have mentioned, it’s easy to get in at the main entrance, but there are also a few other entrances. We were alone at first and later got company from a dance group that took over the main hall. Since no one complained about the loud classical music, the neighbours didn’t seem to be a problem either.

    If you take the long way to Buch, you should definitely check out the two abandoned hospitals on the other side of the station. You can easily get into the state hospital through a hole in the fence to the southwest, and at the Stasi hospital you can simply climb through the fancy gate or, if you’re a bit thicker, through the windows of the gatehouse. You can get to the roof of both and in good weather you can see all the way to the Alex! We also met a security guard there (not sure, he wasn’t wearing a uniform and was too relaxed in my opinion. Maybe he was just telling fairy tales), who said he had no problem with exploring and spraying, as long as nothing was broken.

    Reply
  62. Anonymous

    Was here today,
    While gates are still open the hole on the front has now been secured shut.

    Reply
  63. Lina C.

    Was there today, got in via one of the numerous gaps in the fence by the driveway next to the bus stop. I don’t know whether this is the main entrance, but if you go left, you’ll encounter some stairs that lead up to a door that is covered by 2 metal plates. I should say “was” because the bottom one is off and there’s a hole that you can crawl through and you’re in. And if a person of 1.80 height can do it, so can you. 😉 Great place, not in danger of collapsing, and can be reached with an AB ticket, what do you want more? :))

    Reply
  64. Anonymous

    Was there today.
    There’s a metal plate completely taken out, so getting in is not even questionable. Just go around the building and you won’t miss it.
    Viel Spaß!

    Reply
    • Nanonymous

      Thank you for encouraging us to go there. That was a nice “treat” .

      Reply
    • Anonymous

      Made it there today, thanks for the info 😉

      Reply
  65. Anonymous

    There today. The fence is broken down at the path near the bus stop. Then just walk in the front door.

    Reply
  66. Alex

    Went there this past weekend (Jan 2022). It’s still easily accessible. The first fence has been pushed down behind the bus stop (or alternatively you can simply walk around it at the main entrance). The second fence can be easily pushed aside in front of the main entrance. The entire building remains intact as well as the artwork but most of the windows are boarded making it really dark and cold inside. Make sure to bring a flashlight since otherwise you won’t be able to see around. To get inside you need to go through a window on the main entrance, the hallway close by, or another window north of the bus stop. There were a few other explorers as well, it seems to be a popular spot with the locals.

    The Regierungskrankenhaus der DDR close by is also easy to access. No patrols, security, or cameras. Fence is easy to push aside. It’s in a surprisingly good condition with some of the original equipment and signs still there. It also had lots of people exploring. Counted at least 20 others. The Stasi Hospital is not as easy to get into but still possible. You can easily climb the fence or dig underneath it (soft ground). Didn’t find any patrols or cameras either. Unfortunately, it was dark by that time so we simply scoped the area for future reference.

    Reply
  67. Anonymous

    Went there yesterday – there are gaps in the fence to get up to the building, and one of the panels covering the window, on the left side of the front door was removed, so it was easy to get in.
    There was even another adventurer livestreaming her trip, which made the whole experience slightly less scary.

    Reply
  68. Leimannn

    Absolutely no recommendation! There are now cameras with motion detectors there. The apparently new owner of the house and the police were on the spot immediately. The owner reports any intrusion to the police. Dont do it!

    Reply
    • Spudnik

      Hi Leimannn, this sounds suspiciously made up, but I’ll let others decide if they want to take that risk. Thanks.

      Reply
      • Leimannn

        There are signs of videorecording on the fences. I`ve made it inside, there are couple of wildlife cameras around the place. Later the apparently owner with police showed up. He told me he is living in Buch, gets the pics of the cameras and will be there in minutes. Also he is going to sue everyone who keeps trying to get in. Just sharing my experience, thats proper trespassing now.

        Reply
          • Leimannn

            No, he said i was the first one he catched since he installed the cameras a few days ago. The deal was that i tell people, that the property is monitored from now on so people know about the risk of suing. In return he let me go.

          • Spudnik

            Ok! Well, your job is done! Thanks.

          • Marc

            Why are you so passive-aggressive with people reporting negative experiences/dangers with the buildings you reccomend for a visit? Abandoned places come and go all the time – it’s not like we own them or that they owe us anything…

  69. Anonymous

    We wanted to visit it on a workt day but there were workers all over the place, building the new “Waldhaus Quartier”. Many trees are gone so you are super visible from the distance. Also the metall panels got removed from the windwos and replaced by chipboard. The “old” entrence (down there in the front) was closed. We could´nt get inside. Sadly it looks that this lost place will be gone soon.

    Reply

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