The thousand inhabitants of the French village of Ornes, on the edge of a forest in the early 20th century, were awoken from their idyllic lives at the outbreak of the First World War.
Explore the intriguing world of dark tourism in Europe, where history's shadows come alive. Visit sites of battles, tragedies, and mysteries, each telling a unique story of the past. Uncover the allure of exploring Europe's darker side, from haunting ruins to historic battlegrounds.
The thousand inhabitants of the French village of Ornes, on the edge of a forest in the early 20th century, were awoken from their idyllic lives at the outbreak of the First World War.
The bayonet trench in Douamont, France, is a war memorial on the Verdun battlefield that rests on a war myth.
Although today, Vloethemveld is a 350-hectare nature reserve a stone's throw from Bruges, it was once home to a Belgian army ammunition depot and the nature area also hides other military secrets.
On the night of 18-19 January 1923, the Dutch East Indies (today's Indonesia) caught the first test signals from the Dutch broadcasting station Kootwijk, over 12,000 kilometres away. It was a miracle of technology—or was it?
In the 1950s, anyone who wanted to cross the Upper Merwede had to rely on a ferry service. This was not very convenient in emergencies.
During the final months of World War I, the British Army Troop Company Royal Engineers erected a concrete bridge over the Kemmelbeek near Ypres.
A skull and crossbones adorn the mossy grave of Antoine Michel Wemaer, a merchant buried here in 1837.
New Year's Eve 1874. Over a railway viaduct hundreds of metres long near Wesel, Germany, a first train thunders over what will become the transnational railway line between Paris and Hamburg.
Two and a half centuries ago, on 13 February 1787, the first burial took place in Bruges' Central Cemetery on the outskirts of the city.
Latest from the blog
On November 9, 1989, the Berlin Wall—a symbol of Cold War division and oppression—was breached, and Berliners poured through the newly opened checkpoints in an emotional wave of unity and celebration. Now, thirty-five years later, the wall no longer divides East from West, but its remnants and the scars it left on Berlin are still visible, telling the story of a city split in two for nearly three decades.
All photos and stories are copyrighted. Of course, linking to articles on the site is possible and allowed.
If you would like to use photos or articles from this website, please contact bart@hiddenmonuments.com.
© 2003-2024 Hiddenmonuments.com