The stories that follow have one thing in common – they are about temples (some of them 4-5 centuries old), which ended up as lonely isles of destruction. From Macedonia, to Germany, Russia, and Brazil, the construction of dams and reservoirs leaves churches under water. Today, after so many years, these ruins are both eerie and beautiful, which is why they attract travelers with a passion for the unusual.

Here are 7 places to visit, if you enjoy non-mainstream destination and unusual stories.

Mavrovo, Macedonia

The church in Mavrovo, Macedonia

The “St. Nicholas” church was built in 1850 and, for 153 proud years, stood by the Macedonian village of Mavrovo, until it was decided that a dam would be built in the area. There are times of the year, when the church is completely submerged and cannot be seen, but it resurfaces again and again. You are most likely to see it if you visit the region during a dry summer, like the last few ones.

Potosi, Venezuela

The cross in La Honda dam, Venezuela

The only thing left of the church in the Venezuelan city of Potosi, is the cross atop its bell tower. All of the city’s inhabitants fled, after it became clear that the government had decided to build the La Honda dam here. According to those who once resided in the city, in 1985 Venezuela’s president at the time – Carlos Andres Perez, came to the city and simply told the people that if they do not leave their homes, they would be forced out.

Rutland, UK

Rutland Water, UK

Rutland Water is the name of a dam, near Normanton, UK. This strange church is currently halfway under water. This is yet another place, that used to be a settlement, and was submerged due do the building of a dam. This church, however, was saved in an unusual way – its floors were raised with about a meter and, when inside, you realize how weirdly low the windows, ceiling and altar seem… Not only is the church open to visitors, but it is also fully functional and often becomes the ground for wedding ceremonies.

Petrolandia, Brazil

The submerged church near Petrolandia, Brazil

Petrolandia is a city in Brazil, which currently has about 30,000 residents. It is located near the banks of the Sao Francisco River. As is the case with many of the other churches in this list, in the past, a portion of the city was submerged so that a dam could be built in its place. The only remaining structure of what once was a city, is now the half-ruined church. This rundown structure looks unreal, but also spectacularly beautiful – it resembles a huge fish, with its mouth open, awaiting tasty visitors.

Krokhino, Russia

The submerged church in Krokhino, Russia

Once upon a time, this church was of interest because of its beautiful design, but today it has a much different, eerie appeal. The church in Krokhino is located at the border of the Sheksna River and the White Lake. The temple was built in the 15th century but during the 1980s the socialist government decided to construct a hydroelectric power station in its place. Today, what remains of the church has been turned into a tourist attraction, normally visited by boat. There have been several campaigns, whose mission is to save what is left of the building from full devastation.

Kalyazin, Russia

The Belfry in Kalyazin, Russia

Ever since 1939, the belfry of the church in Kalyazin has been casting its shadow on the waters of the dam of the Volga River. This is the year when Stalin ordered the entire region, along with the monastery and the village next to it, to be submerged under water. Gradually, however, especially in the last few years, the location is becoming an increasingly popular tourist destination (not only for Russian visitors, but also for international ones), which is why the government decided to strengthen what is left of the bell tower, and add a small pier for the visitors boats.

Reschensee, Italy

The bell tower in Curon Venosta, Italy

At the bottom of the man-made lake Lago di Resia (Reschensee in German) in Italy, you can see a submerged church from the 14th century. Today, the only part of the structure above water is its bell tower near the town of Curon Venosta. In the winter, when the lake freezes over, you can reach the bell tower by foot. According to the legend, sometimes, during the winter, you can hear the church bells ringing. However, that’s somewhat doubtful, since the bells were removed in 1950, when the main part of the church was demolished and a dam was built a week later.

Discover:  7 more secret places in Italy

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We challenge you: Explore the forbidden – enter an abandoned building

Have you ever passed by a crumbling building and wondered what the atmosphere of a place long forgotten would feel like? If the answer is yes and you’ve been even slightly compelled by the idea of actually checking these places out, then urbex is your new greatest discovery. Short for urban exploration, urbex represents the activity of exploring abandoned or seldom seen components of man-made structures. In other words, it’s the thrilling act of satisfying the curiosity for everything veiled from view. And though being driven by different motives, the daring souls, who practice urbex, all have something in common. No matter whether you will be doing it as a photographer, as someone appreciating architecture or willing to experience the past, all urban explorers are inevitably adventure seekers!

© Maria Angelova/www.203challenges.com

So how to do it:

Finding the right location – go out and explore your city. Take notice of any old buildings and other decaying structures. These are most likely to be found in suburban areas and industrial regions. For more ideas, there are now numerous apps and sites mapping the location of such sights. For more info visit www.forbidden-places.net, opacity.us or check the ‘Abandoned’ iPhone app.

Safety comes first – bear in mind that urbex lies on the margins of legality and should therefore be a conscious practice. Take the risks into consideration and explore places only if they seem completely abandoned. Beware of cameras and motion detectors.

P.S. Never enter a building if there are clear signs of hazardous structures such as unstable floors or rotten roofs! Also, watch your steps and make sure to wear shoes with thicker soles! You don’t want to have rusty nails stuck in your foot, do you?

Don’t forget a flashlight – even if done in the daylight, urbex would most likely lead you to poorly lit places. In that case, wandering in the dark is not the brightest idea.

Bring a partner in crime – аs with every other recreational activity, urbex is more fun when done with friends. It’s also much safer to have somebody watch your back in case of any danger.

Comply with the motto: “take only pictures, leave only footprints…” – it’s perfectly possible to explore a place in a respectful way without leaving any signs of your presence. Let time be the sole vandal and leave the location as if you’ve never actually been there. This also means that no souvenirs are allowed.

© Maria Angelova/www.203challenges.com

Did you know that…

…astounding historic buildings are torn down every single day. Take the Belgian Château Miranda for instance. Built at the end of the French revolution and left to the ravages of time in 1991, the visionary castle had until recently been a top urbex destination. Sadly, despite the arrangement of a formal petition and the vehement protests of locals, this year the chateau was completely demolished. So… What are you waiting for?

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