#hotel barenberg

[urbanrelics]

HERMANN DUNCKER HOTEL

This beautifully dilapidated building in the German hills has seen many purposes throughout its existence. It would appear that at one point an effort was made to restore the magnificent builsing to its former glory. Unfortunately (and lucky for us, urban explorers, those works were abandoned aswell...

Due to the wide hills and forests in the area, Schierke became known as a place where one could fully enjoy "healthy air". At a time when spas were becoming popular, it was only a matter of time before the first spa hotels appeared here too.

This particular one, built between 1909 and 1912 in the hamlet of Barenberg, opened its doors as "Villa Waldpark" in 1912. The spa did not have a long life. During the Second World War it was used as a military hospital.

In 1924 the building was expanded with a dining room and after the renovation work was renamed hotel "Barenberger Hof". From then on it was used as a holiday home, or "Erholungsheim".

The building remained in use by successive operators until German unification in 1989. It has been empty since then. A Berlin investment group bought the dilapidated building with the intention of restoring it to its former glory and operating it again as a hotel. So far nothing has come of those plans and the building soon fell prey to vandals and arsonists... Renovation works came to a standstill as quickly as they had started and it looks more and more like that "Villa Waldpark" will not be possible. more will be able to escape the demolition hammer...