The 1936 Berlin Olympic Village

In 1936, the Olympic Games were held in the city of Berlin, Germany.  Most people have heard the tale of the legendary Jesse Owens giving the Nazis a little humility.  But what many do not know is that in preparation for this prestigious event, Germany built an entire complex to house and entertain the more than 4000 athletes that would show up to compete.  Today, much of that complex has been either refurbished or destroyed, but many buildings still remain for the curious explorer.

The Olympic Village is located in Elstal, near Berlin.  More than 145 buildings were erected in the area, but the use of the buildings for an athletic purpose was short-lived.  Following the Olympics, the Nazis turned the buildings into a military school.  After the division of Germany and take-over by the Soviets, the same location was put into use by Soviet forces.  After the Berlin Wall fell, most of the village was abandoned for good.

The two main buildings still in use are the Olympic Stadium and the Olympic Bell Tower, which are amazing sites in and of themselves.  But to the explorer of ruins, the crumbling structures of the village are far more interesting.  The site houses sporting fields (which sometimes see use by local schools), housing enough to accommodate the thousands that stayed there and many accompanying buildings such as a swimming pool structure, a gymnasium, a theater and a restaurant. 

Most of the housing has crumbled or been destroyed, though some still remain, among those the room where Jesse Owens stayed during his time there.  Some buildings still contain the patchwork remnants of both Soviet and Nazi influence, decorations that attest to the past with paintings, murals, carvings and statues.

Though the Olympic Village is falling apart, there are some efforts to save and restore it as an historical site.  Unfortunately, these efforts aren't going so well, so the village may not be around for much longer.  Unlike many other urban exploration sites, this one can be accessed via paying a small entrance fee, so there’s no need to be sneaky.  It’s only open from the first of April until the end of October of each year, so plan accordingly if you want to check it out.

Swimming hall photo courtesy of N-Lange.de via Wikicommons

Housing photo courtesy of Global Fish via Wikicommons