Trespassing Into History

A weathered brick barge resting quietly in the water and a handful of crumbling brick walls are among the few visible reminders of what was once one of Mecklenburg's most important industrial sites. Today, the former Brick Harbour (Ziegeleihafen) in Malliß is a peaceful destination surrounded by woodland, accessible via marked forest trails. It is difficult to imagine that this tranquil place once echoed with the sounds of industry, where barges, workers and machinery kept one of the region's largest brickworks in constant motion....(more)

The former Soviet radar site was part of the air surveillance network operated by the Soviet Forces in Germany (GSSD/WGF). During the Cold War, it served as an early warning and airspace monitoring station, contributing to the integrated air defense system of the Warsaw Pact. Its primary mission was to detect and track aircraft approaching from the west, monitor the airspace over Saxony and the Ore Mountains, and relay radar data to higher command centers responsible for coordinating fighter aircraft and surface-to-air missile units....(more)

On our way home from Hotel Gutsmann, we still had a little time to spare, so we decided to make a short detour to the ruins of an old brickworks.

We had already visited the site back in 2013, but it's always fascinating to see what time and the elements have done to an abandoned building. The extra stop also gave us the perfect excuse for another walk through the snow-covered winter landscape.

About forty minutes later, we arrived and parked our car beside a vast, snow-white field. The deep blue sky, the untouched blanket of snow, and the crisp winter air created a truly beautiful atmosphere.......(more)