Lost Place Sorge: the Johanniter sanatorium
They hold a strong fascination for many people: the so-called **lost places**. Abandoned sites, buildings, and other locations that exude a haunting charm and invite visitors to embark on a journey of discovery. Of course, a great deal of imagination is part of the experience, too—after all, these are places where you can truly let your imagination run wild. This particular visit takes us to the former **Johanniter Sanatorium** in the Harz Mountains, more precisely in the village of Sorge. I wasn’t familiar with it beforehand, but a quick online search reveals that it is one of the best-known lost places in the Harz region. I won’t go into too much detail about its history here, as others have already done an excellent job of that. Ultimately, though, it’s a story of **good times and bad times**.
Good Times, Bad Times
Here’s a brief summary of the sanatorium’s history, based on what our hiking guide, Stefan, told us yesterday.
At some point, the pharmaceutical industry began producing tuberculosis medication that made the Johanniter sanatorium obsolete. Eventually, the sanatorium was closed and later acquired by the government of the former East Germany (GDR). It was converted into a holiday and recuperation home for members of the National People’s Army (NVA). After German reunification, however, that chapter came to an end, and the property was returned to the Johanniter. By then, they had regained ownership of several former properties and hoped to sell this one for three million euros. A potential buyer was only willing to pay two million, so no agreement was reached—and the site was simply left to decay.
As is so often the case, weather and vandalism did the rest. Eventually, the roof was damaged, the windows were smashed, and rainwater began pouring into the building. That’s obviously disastrous for wooden beams. Over time they rot, and from that point on it’s only a matter of time before the entire structure deteriorates. In the end, the estate was leased for 30 years to a Dutch couple. Sadly, they have since passed away, but another couple, who had been friends with the original leaseholders, now manages the property.
Warriors of the Wasteland
The buildings are in serious danger of collapse, and mold has spread extensively as well. For a small admission fee of €5, the current caretakers unlock the fenced-off grounds for visitors. When we arrive on this warm Sunday afternoon—Stefan had announced our visit in advance—we repeatedly hear loud screams coming from inside the grounds. At first we wonder whether someone has fallen from the third floor. Fortunately, that’s not the case. Another visitor from the Thuringian Forest explains that a music video is currently being filmed inside the main building. The location is apparently especially popular with metal bands, and today’s visitors are representatives of the **Wasteland** scene. I personally had never heard of it before, but fortunately we have someone knowledgeable with us.
So we set off to explore the site ourselves. The level of destruction is striking: broken glass, dust, collapsed roofs, shattered ceramics, and debris are everywhere. What surprises me most, however, is how many people are visiting today. The place really does seem to be well known. We take our time looking around. Sturdy footwear, sure footing, and in some places a good head for heights are definitely advisable. It’s often no longer obvious what many of the rooms originally were. The dining hall, kitchen, food lift, and bathrooms are still fairly easy to recognize, but for the rest you have to rely on your imagination.
We make our way through almost every floor and are surprised to find that exploring the complex takes at least an hour. Afterwards, we also visit the former nurses’ residence, located to the left of the main building, as well as the chief physician’s house. Needless to say, the doctor’s villa appears to have been the best-appointed building on the site. It also gives the impression of having remained occupied the longest. Not everything inside has been destroyed, and some parts even seem to have been renovated.
The Ochsenberg Circuit
After a good hour and a half, we feel we’ve seen everything and meet up with the rest of our group again. While some head straight back to the parking lot, we decide to stretch our legs a little longer. We hike a loop around **Ochsenberg**, giving us the chance to admire the entire lost place once more from a distance.
Back in **Hohegeiß**, we treat ourselves to a cold drink at the **Grenz-Imbiss**, a snack bar that offers not only food and refreshments but also a collection of curious memorabilia from the former East Germany. After all, the former inner-German border—with its infamous “death strip”—once ran between Sorge and Hohegeiß. According to the memorial plaque at the parking area, at least one person lost their life there while attempting to cross.
And with that, our Sunday cultural excursion comes to an end.
