Chateau Heliomarin was built most likely in the final decades of the 19th century. For much of the 20th century, it was associated with a nearby medical institution, whose work was based partly on the idea that sunlight, fresh sea air and the marine environment could contribute to the treatment and recovery of patients.

The Petite Ceinture, or “Little Belt,” is an old railway line that once encircled Paris. Built in the nineteenth century, it was created to connect the city’s major railway stations and transport passengers and goods around the capital without having to cross through its busy centre.

Hidden in the countryside of France’s Nièvre department stands Château Secret, once perhaps France’s most evocative urbex location. A few years ago, urban explorers could step inside and wander through its seemingly endless corridors and rooms, filled with antiques, personal belongings and mysteries.

From a place of cultural gatherings during the Belle Époque to a boarding school run by nuns, Fairy Castle has had a vivid history. Today, only the façade remains, after the bulldozers have had their way with what was once an abandoned country house.