Lost Places in the Black Forest

Opened in 1902, the luxury hotel attracted international guests in its heyday. Its grand ballroom, long corridors, historic rooms and many preserved interior details still provide an impression of the hotel culture of that era.

After several changes of ownership and lengthy periods of vacancy, regular hotel operations eventually ceased. Waldlust later became one of the most famous photographic subjects in Germany’s lost-place scene.

Numerous ghost stories also grew up around the building. One of the best known tells of a hotel owner who was allegedly murdered. However, this story belongs to the modern legends surrounding Waldlust and is not historically documented.

Today, the Denkmalfreunde Waldlust association works to preserve the building. Guided tours, visitor days, photo tours, concerts and events provide legal access to parts of the former grand hotel.

Between 1907 and 1973, the former pulmonary sanatorium treated people suffering from tuberculosis and other lung diseases. Its elevated location, fresh air and spacious open-air resting halls were part of the therapeutic concept of the time.

After the sanatorium closed, various plans were developed for a new use. However, no lasting revival of the extensive building complex was achieved. Vacancy, vandalism and progressive decay came to define the site.

A major fire in 2023 destroyed large parts of the roof and significantly increased the danger. The site was cordoned off. Unstable structural elements, open shafts and damaged floors make entering the building life-threatening.

The Weißenstein paper mill was founded in 1861. Hydropower from the Nagold river played an important role in production. Over the decades, an extensive complex of production halls, warehouses, workshops and technical installations developed.

Paper production ended in October 2001. Since then, large parts of the former factory site have stood empty. Individual sections are nevertheless used, secured or being examined with regard to future development.

The site is therefore neither a public attraction nor a freely accessible ruin. Damaged structures, roofs and floors can pose serious risks even in halls that appear stable.

The building stands on a prominent bend close to Kniebis. For many years, Waldhorn was a stopping point for travellers, hikers and winter-sports visitors. The business included dining rooms and overnight accommodation.

As travel habits changed, several traditional mountain hotels and excursion inns lost their former importance. The vacancy of Waldhorn became a visible symbol of this development.

The building can be seen from public roads, but it is not a regular visitor attraction. The property must not be entered without permission.

What began as a simple shelter gradually developed into a well-known mountain hotel. Kurhaus Sand was a popular starting point for excursions, hiking and winter sports along the Black Forest High Road.

Regular hotel operations ceased in the 1990s. Parts of the furnishings, furniture, guest rooms and communal areas remained inside, giving the building an unusually immediate sense of its former use.

Unlike many completely closed lost places, Kurhaus Sand has at times been opened for registered visits and official events. However, such opportunities are not permanently available and must be confirmed before travelling.

Hundseck was once one of the major spa and mountain hotels in the region. In its heyday, the extensive building complex had numerous guest rooms as well as leisure and recreation facilities.

After it closed, the condition deteriorated over decades. Parts of the building have already had to be removed for safety reasons. The remaining structure is considered at acute risk of collapse.

In February 2026, the state, district and participating municipalities agreed on a joint approach to demolition. Because of species-protection requirements, published plans indicate that demolition can begin no earlier than September 2026.

Even after demolition, Hundseck will remain relevant to the history of the Black Forest High Road. The site will then document not only a lost place, but also the final disappearance of a once important spa hotel.

The former hotel stands on a prominent mountain pass near Kniebis. For many years, it was a well-known stopping point along the Black Forest High Road. Hotel operations ended in early 2015.

The state of Baden-Württemberg acquired the listed building. After a lengthy planning phase, concrete clearance, dismantling and redevelopment work began in 2026.

Plans include a ranger station for the Black Forest National Park, an information area, an event room and simple overnight accommodation for hikers.

Strictly speaking, Alexanderschanze is therefore no longer a classic lost place. It remains in this guide because its transformation shows how an abandoned building can gain a new perspective.