Lost Places

Lost Places - most people are probably familiar with this term by now. Lost places are buildings that no longer fulfil their former functions and have been forgotten, so to speak. You have probably seen pictures of abandoned hospitals or amusement parks - for many people, such special places with their special atmosphere exert a strong attraction. In recent years, a real scene has developed in which corresponding insider tips are exchanged. Unfortunately, "spotting" lost places has a small catch: in many cases it is illegal - anyone entering a fenced-off area or building is trespassing. Nevertheless, some exciting places are freely accessible - and today I will show you one of them in Hann. Münden.

A test of courage turns into a blog post

Hann. Münden also has something to offer away from the old town with its numerous half-timbered houses, shops, restaurants and cafés. Admittedly, it took me a while before I finally managed to visit this place, but I can tell you in advance: It was worth it! I had already read something about the Volkmarshäus railway tunnel a few times in passing, but recently the topic came up again in a conversation with a colleague. The old railway tunnel was built between 1852 and 1855, and until 1995 trains regularly passed through it on the line between Göttingen and Hann. Münden, which was then closed down and replaced by another route. My colleague told me that it used to be a popular test of courage for young people to walk through the dark tunnel. For me as a "cassette child" of the 90s who grew up with the well-dosed creepiness of The Three Question Marks, it was quickly clear that a visit here is now long overdue.

Autumn feeling in high summer

So a few days later I set off for the Hann. Münden district of Volkmarshausen. Volkmarshausen can be reached by car in just a few minutes from the centre of Hann. Münden. Although today is 15 July and therefore high summer in calendar terms, it is quite cold at 15 degrees and the weather is much more reminiscent of autumn than summer. But a bit of Halloween feeling suits my programme today much better anyway.

The little hike starts at the small cemetery in Volkmarshausen. From there, you take the Lausewinkel road to Karl-Köhler-Weg, at the end of which a forest path starts that leads steeply upwards. After a few minutes of walking, the path forks off to the left. In addition to various flowers, you can also discover some bizarre animal sculptures here in the terrain. Don't worry, these are only targets of the archery club "Shadow Hunters", which has set up a course here.  After a few metres, we already see the southwest portal of the tunnel: it looks overgrown and enchanted.

A bit spooky

Now I can understand that walking through the tunnel is a bit of a test of courage: Since the tunnel contains a bend, you can't even guess the other end from the entrance and you enter total darkness. Fortunately, the torch function on the mobile phone shows us the way. With a length of 325.5 metres, the tunnel is not exactly short either, and in the middle, it is pitch dark. In winter, by the way, the tunnel occasionally becomes a roost for bats, which hibernate in niches and indentations inside the tunnel, as do moths and spiders. I prefer not to think about spiders during my walk through the tunnel and am glad for a brief moment that my torch only casts a small cone of light where I want to take the next step. The tracks have been removed from the tunnel in the meantime. Then it finally seems to get a little brighter again and the exit comes into our field of vision. The north portal is also worth seeing and is equally designed in the neo-Romanesque style and is also made of sandstone. The surroundings are quite overgrown and so there is only one option for the way back: back through the tunnel.

Only a short way back to civilisation

At the southwest portal, there is still a small, well-worn staircase overgrown with moss. It must have served a function in the past, but today you can't get anywhere from here. But if you carefully climb a few steps, you get another view of the mystical tunnel entrance. Slowly, it is time for us to return to civilisation and turn our backs on this unusual place. It takes about 15 minutes to reach the Volkmarshäuser Tunnel from the cemetery in Volksmarshausen.

Sights off the beaten track

I can recommend this little excursion to Volkmarshausen to those who are looking for sights of a different kind, who like to move "off the beaten track" or who are interested in lost places. For photographers who like to focus on unusual motifs and shooting locations, the old railway tunnel certainly has its appeal!