10 Inspiring Forgotten Ruins Reclaimed By Nature

Forgotten Ruins

From prehistoric colonies and wonders of the ancient world to classical castles and even whole cities, some of the planet’s most impressive sights have fallen victim to the forces of mother nature.

Some were annihilated into oblivion by extreme weather, and others were simply abandoned by their human occupants, allowing nature to run its course.

When given a chance to thrive on the remains of human creation, nature can take the forgotten and neglected and turn them into spectacular sights. When buildings, towns, and big cities are left behind, nature comes in, invades, and fills that void.

Resulting in lots of deserted places taken over by sand, leafy vines, and even some wild animals. We’ve picked some of the world’s most fascinating spots, all but forgotten by humankind but ravaged by Mother Nature… Some in a good way!

Check out the 10 extraordinary forgotten ruins from all over the world of nature reclaiming abandoned places. You may just be inspired to pack up your bags and head out for your next adventure!

Forgotten Ruin In Romania: Poenari Castle

If you were to visit Romania, your first bucket list sight would probably be Bran Castle, thanks to Bram Stoker. And while that castle IS one of the most beautiful sites this country has to offer, it wasn’t the real home of the man we know as “Dracula.”

His true home was actually about two and a half hours west of there in a creepy-looking abandoned castle, high in the mountains of northwestern Romania, which once belonged to Vlad III Dracula, or Vlad the Impaler.

The infamous Wallachian ruler, whose name was later adopted by Bram Stoker for his famous Gothic horror novel, favored the 13th-century citadel for its lofty location and defensive potential.

Unfortunately, when Vlad the Impaler died in the 15th century, his castle quickly began to crumble, and a landslide in 1888 didn’t help the situation either. The forgotten ruins today are weather-beaten and tucked in between sprawling forestland.

The castle can only be reached by a strenuous climb of nearly 1,500 steps, but the scenery over this secluded part of Romania’s Argeș County is breathtaking.

Forgotten Ruin In Mexico: San Juan Parangaricutiro

In 1943, the Parícutin volcano erupted in the Mexican state of Michoacán, marking the beginning of eight years of devastating volcanic action. During this period, the small village of San Juan Parangaricutiro was swallowed up by lava.

Fortunately, the people who lived in the town had time to escape, but the settlement was ruined. However, homes and many other public structures were buried beneath a carpet of lava. Interestingly, the village church remained remarkably whole.

The townspeople eventually built a new church elsewhere, but the original holy edifice still stands proudly in the volcanic landscape. Its exterior is half-buried by the lava field, and many locals believe the church’s lucky escape was because of an act of God.

But whatever the explanation may be, the astonishing forgotten ruin is preserved for locals and tourists alike, who can usually view the structure on an independent or guided hike.

Forgotten Ruin In Italy: Craco

Sitting on top of a hill in Italy’s Matera province, this striking ghost town has a long and turbulent past. A devastating plague and some attacks from a few outlaws have tested Craco’s spirit over countless centuries, but it managed to survive up until the 1900s.

However, because of a few landslides and earthquakes in the 20th century, the robust town was ultimately abandoned.

Today, you can see greenery sprouting from the crumbling brick, and Craco’s cobble-stoned streets sit abandoned, except for the visitors who are usually on guided tours.

Fun Fact: The ghost town has also been used as a set for movies, including the 2008 James Bond blockbuster Quantum of Solace.

Forgotten Ruin In Belgium: Villers Abbey

This Cistercian abbey in the Wallonia province dates all the way back to the 12th century, when it began its life as a home for 17 monks of the order.

The abbey has been rebuilt numerous times since then, first in a Romanesque style, then the Gothic, and finally in the Neo-classical style.

But it has also suffered a turbulent past. It’s been invaded multiple times over the centuries and was eventually wrecked and looted during the French Revolution. Following that period, the abbey was abandoned and fell into further disrepair.

Beaten by rain and covered by vegetation, it became the perfect domain for Romantic poets and artists. Luckily, at the end of the 19th-century, locals finally began restoring and preserving the forgotten ruin.

Today nature shares the abbey with tourists, who usually take in its magnificent ruins and revel in the well-kept grounds, now home to a medicinal herb garden.

Forgotten Ruin In The US: Ha Ha Tonka State Park Castle

It’s now just an empty shell, but the castle in Ha Ha Tonka State Park, Missouri, was once the beautiful vision of businessman Robert Snyder.

He began the construction of this former storybook fortress in the early 20th century, but construction was halted because Snyder was killed in an accident.

His family carried out Snyder’s vision, finishing the castle sometime in the 1920s. Unfortunately, the building was short-lived because a fire tore through it in 1942. It completely gutted the entire property, soon falling into Mother Nature’s grips.

Over the years, the castle has been consumed by greenery, with trees populating the empty rooms, vines replacing what should have been decor, and grass growing where there were once luxury rugs.

Ha Ha Tonka State Park now protects the ruins, but visitors can see them while hiking.

Forgotten Ruin In India: Ross Island

This part of India became a British colonial settlement throughout the 18th century. But, due to the intense heat and unpredictable weather, the settlers soon left.

However, they returned in 1857 when they turned this jungle-covered island into a penal colony for Indian revolters. As the prison began to expand to the other Andaman isles, Ross Island became its main administrative headquarters.

The Indian rebels were made to suffer in makeshift barracks while the British made sure that the rest of Ross Island was converted into their own personal luxurious base. The prisoners even built cozy homes and an extravagant church for the colonizers.

By the beginning of the 1940s, the prison had ceased operation. And once India achieved its independence in 1947, Ross Island was altogether abandoned all over again. Today these forgotten ruins are interwoven with vines and curbed by trees.

Forgotten Ruin In Australia: Tarban Creek Asylum

Tarban Creek Asylum, which was later renamed Gladesville in New South Wales, has a dark history. Opened in 1838, it’s perched on the coast of the Parramatta River in the Sydney suburb: Gladesville. The psychiatric hospital was known as the first asylum in the area.

The facility was initially intended for just 60 patients, but it’s reported that more than 100 people were admitted here by the 1840s.

A lot has been written about the horrific treatment that patients suffered at this asylum in its earlier years, including different versions of shock therapy and physical abuse.

Many of the patients were eventually buried on-site, leading to mass graves in this location, and the facility was ultimately closed in the 1990s. Today a bunch of haunting structures remain with overgrowth covering their wasting walls.

Forgotten Ruin In Italy: Pompei

Even though this “Forgotten Ruin” is not exactly “Forgotten,” we couldn’t write an article like this and not mention Pompei! This once lively Roman city in southern Italy was famously destroyed and buried beneath ash in AD 79 when Mount Vesuvius erupted.

Around 2,000 people vanished within the rubble, and it remained concealed under tons of ash and rock until its sprawling ruins were unearthed in 1748. It’s considered one of Europe’s richest archaeological sites.

The city remained incredibly intact because of the volcanic ash and debris and helped archaeologists learn about Roman society and everyday life.

The site is so enormous that you could spend days exploring its streets and buildings, including villas, baths, gardens, temples, brothels, and arenas. Not to mention the wealth of artifacts, mosaics, statues, and frescoes that survived despite the cataclysmic event.

Forgotten Ruins In Cambodia: Beng Mealea And Phnom Kulen

Mother Nature has run rampant in many of Cambodia’s jungle ruins, including the large and enigmatic temple of Beng Mealea, which has been dramatically devoured by the surrounding forest.

Climbing around these isolated and overgrown ruins, where deteriorated structures are covered in lush vegetation, is a reminder of the resilience and endurance of mother nature.

The catastrophic medieval city of Mahendraparvata was discovered buried beneath the lush greenery of the jungle plateau of Phnom Kulen, Cambodia’s most sacred mountain.

The vast remains were unearthed in 2012 by archaeologists who launched airborne laser scanner surveys on the area.

The surveys on the national park identified the remains of an almighty city comparable to Angkor Wat, a vast network of temples, palaces, and waterworks infrastructure.

Archaeologists had long sought the rumored lost hilltop capital Mahendraparvata, “the mountain of the great Indra, king of the gods,” founded in AD 802 and was the birthplace of the great Khmer civilization. When the city was deserted, the tropical forest took over.

Tell us what you thought about these incredible forgotten ruins around the world! And be sure to check our site for some other great “nature” stories. Who knows, you might get inspired to plan a trip!

But meanwhile, you should also check out: 10 Most Stunning Cathedrals Around the World