Brick Factory "City Forest"
This abandoned brickyard has a long and varied history, with roots tracing back to the Middle Ages. Clay extraction in the surrounding city forest likely began in the early 13th century. Around 1225, bricks were produced to support the construction of key structures in the town, including the citiy's main church. By 1448, large quantities of bricks were used to rebuild and fortify the local castle, indicating the presence of multiple brickworks in the area, each operating with several kilns.
Throughout the 15th to 17th centuries, the brickyard functioned as a manorial or state-administered operation.
Around 1700, it came under direct municipal control and was officially operated as a town-owned brickyard between 1796 and 1873. Afterward, it was privatized and continued as a private enterprise until around 1950.
Following World War II, the brickyard was nationalized under the East German regime and became a VEB (Volkseigener Betrieb) – a "publicly owned enterprise" – continuing production until its final closure around 1990.
At the peak of its activity, particularly in the 18th and 19th centuries, the brickyard was capable of producing millions of bricks annually, supplying construction projects across the region. Its location in the forest provided ample access to natural clay deposits, and the nearby "Ziegeleisee" (Brickyard Lake) formed in an old clay pit remains as a visible reminder of its industrial past.
In the decades following its closure, the brickyard buildings fell into disuse. Between 1990 and 1995, parts of the site were gradually repurposed. New structures were erected, and the property became home to the DRK (German Red Cross) Therapeutic Residential Facility, offering social and therapeutic support to children and adolescents.
Today, while no original kilns remain in operation, the site still bears the legacy of the region's brickmaking history—an industry that helped shape the town’s architecture and economy for centuries.
In February 2019, a serious accident occurred at the brickyard site: A group of teenagers, including a 14-year-old girl, climbed onto one of the dilapidated structures on the property. While on the roof, the young girl stepped onto a weakened intermediate floor (Zwischendecke), which collapsed under her weight. She fell approximately 5 meters, sustaining severe head and pelvic injuries, and was transported to a hospital.
This tragic event highlighted significant safety hazards posed by the abandoned structures and intensified discussions about securing, renovating, or redeveloping the site.
Visited: March 27, 2021
Location: Undisclosed, Germany
Status: Abandoned
