Beelitz Sanatorium

Beelitz, a small town in the county of Brandenburg. There, you find the Beelitz Heilstätten – Beelitz Sanatorium – a heritage-protected complex, built between 1898 and 1930.

Around 60 buildings were constructed for the Beelitz Heilstätten on an area of about 200 hectares. Facilities for treating pulmonary diseases were placed north of the train tracks, south of them were facilities for noninfectious diseases.

Patients were also separated by gender. Women in the buildings west of the main road, men east of the road.

During the World Wars, the facilities of Beelitz Sanatorium were used as a military hospital and sanatorium for the ill and wounded soldiers.
The Red Army took the critically damaged buildings after the Second World War. They used the complex to create the largest Soviet military hospital on foreign soil. The hospital was closed in 1994.

Since then, some of the buildings have been refurbished. They now house a neuro-biological rehabilitation clinic, a specialist Parkinson’s clinic and rehabilitation facilities for children.

Sadly, due to bankruptcy of the owners in 2001, the refurbishment of the remaining buildings has stopped.

Now, the complex is a surreal and mysterious sight just off the road. Dilapidated buildings, overgrown gardens and almost forgotten relics of the past. We explored the premises by ourselves and walked away with some remarkable impressions.

We didn’t dare to go inside the buildings as some of them looked structurally unsound. But we peaked through windows and saw a few details, for example, the tiles in the rooms that still gave off that distinct hospital vibe.

Too bad that the complex is so run down. I hope that all buildings will one day be fully refurbished.

When we visited the Beelitz Sanatorium it was not permitted to enter the buildings. Now there are official guided tours for the premises, including the buildings.