I Documented 30 Of The Most Beautiful Abandoned Sacred Places I’ve Visited In Europe

We are interested in shelters, tunnels, abandoned buildings, thermal pipelines, rooftops with scenic views—anything that is inaccessible to the average person, can be explored independently, and holds visual or historical value. Independence is crucial; it is the core aspect that differentiates Urban Exploration from media or commercial photography. Our aim is for every photo or article to bring something new to the subculture, either historically or visually. Therefore, we strive to visit relatively unknown locations, leaving well-known sites to photographers and other enthusiasts.

Differentiating Urban Exploration (UE) from vandalism is crucial, as people often confuse the two. Vandalism involves intentionally damaging property through actions like breaking in, graffiti, or theft. In contrast, the essence of UE is preservation—leaving no trace behind after exploring a location. The ultimate goal for urban explorers is to respect the integrity of the sites they visit, ensuring no harm is done. This philosophy is best summarized by one of UE’s guiding principles: “Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints.”

We primarily photoghraph in Vilnius and its surroundings, but we also travel farther if necessary—to Latvia, Estonia, Ukraine, and other countries where we have friends or can independently find locations. We frequently represent Lithuania and Vilnius to foreign visitors. Recently, as the number of sites in Lithuania has decreased, we have increasingly ventured to countries like Poland, Germany, France, and Belgium. We’ve also explored places in Abkhazia, Georgia, Italy, and other countries.

If the place is not mentioned in the article, we aim to keep it a secret. Preserving the location after visiting is our top priority. We share information only with personally trusted individuals within the subculture. Time and again, we’ve witnessed how even minimal public disclosure of a site leads to its eventual destruction. For this reason, we make no exceptions, whether for photoshoots, filming, or other journalistic or artistic projects.