|
The 19th century saw the construction of many castles all around France. This one is located in a quiet town 30 minutes from Paris. After the demolition of the first castle built here in 1775, the Duc de Massa ordered the construction of a new castle in 1884. In 1924 it became a tuberculosis hospital until being abandoned in 1992.
Central Thermique was used to produce electricity from the highly toxic furnace gas of the neighboring furnaces. The electricity was intended for domestic and industrial use. Built in 1951, the Central Thermique has been closed since 1997, just after the last furnace was shut down.
After the French Revolution, this opulent residence was built as a summer home in 1866 by the English architect Milner, although he died before seeing its completion. During World War II The Château de Miranda, as it was called then was briefly occupied by the Nazis. It was abandoned in 1991.
This huge factory was abandoned many years ago. Sintering is a method for making objects from powder, by heating the material until its particles adhere to each other. The whole plant is covered in the dark brown dust. Many machines are still inside. Rusty stairs take us 8 floors up for great views over the plant.
In 1913 the Franciscans established here to take care of the disabled. In the 1930s it was taken over by the Nazis. In 1940 the Nazis built the so-called "Kinderfachabteilungen", which were killing institutions. 97 children and a total of 512 people died here between 1939 and 1943. In 1952 the Franciscans got the building back.
|
