Red Urbex (8/8)

Urbex Roja (8/8)

Czerwony Urbex (8/8)

Urbex Rouge (8/8)

Urbex im Osten (8/8)

Urbex Rossa (8/8)

Nicknamed the "corn cob" for its circular shape, this brutalist Moldovan tower was built in 1986 to provide temporary accommodation. It was supposed to last a hundred years but it's already decaying. People still live in this concrete rotunda which at times can feel oppressive.

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Ghost Buildings of the Eastern Block

Red Urbex

Moldova: The Colossal Communist Tower

This tower was supposed to last a hundred years but it's already decaying

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The Russian military base at Wünsdorf near Berlin was abandoned after the Berlin Wall fell. When the Soviet soldiers returned to Russia, they left behind a ghost town of the Cold War era.

East Germany: The Red Army Vanishes

Red Urbex (1/8)

This masterpiece of brutalist architecture was built in 1981 in the middle of the Bulgarian mountains under the leadership of Todor Jivkov. It was a near-sacred place during the era of Bulgarian communism, but now it's fallen into near-ruin. 

Bulgaria: Communism's UFO

This abandoned flying saucer tells the story of the rise and fall of Bulgarian communism

Red Urbex (2/8)

It now stands forgotten on a Croatian mountain, but this steel monument that took 7 years to build was to remember the uprising of the people against fascism in the former Yugoslavia.

Croatia: Tito's Last Folly

This steel monument surges from the mists, forgotten on a Croatian mountain

Red Urbex (3/8)

Tskaltubo, Georgia, is now a shadow of what it once was; one of the most popular Soviet spas. Stalin enjoyed coming here. But now, it's fallen into disuse and disrepair. These ruins blend classic Stalinist architecture with Georgian ethnic motifs. A haunting, melancoly trip through a piece of history that's fast disappearing. 

Georgia: Stalin's Secret Sanatorium

Visit the opulent ruins of Stalin's favourite spa

Red Urbex (4/8)

In Tirana, the monument was erected in 1988 in honour of the Albanian dictator Enver Hoxha. Now, it's an empty mausoleum. After the fall of the regime, the statues were broken, and the building looted. 

Albania: The Tyrant's Pyramid

A monument to a dictator now fallen into ruins

Red Urbex (5/8)

Inaugurated in 1981 by the Soviet authorities, the circus of Chisinau was designed as a braided basket of concrete. It's become an iconic building in the heart of the Moldavian capital.

Moldova: Ghosts of the Soviet Circus

Inaugurated in 1981 by the Soviet authorities, the circus of Chisinau was designed as a braided basket of concrete

Red Urbex (6/8)

This brutalist skyscraper was built in 1977 for a large Yugoslavian company, Genex. Described as "the ugliest building in the world", this incredible brutalist skyscraper is loved and hated in Belgrade in equal measure.

Belgrade: A Brutalist Jewel

Described as "the ugliest building in the world", this incredible brutalist skyscraper is loved and hated in Belgrade in equal measure

Red Urbex (7/8)

Red Urbex - Ghost Buildings of the Eastern Block

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Everything is red here. In Provence an alumina refinery has been dumping tonnes of toxic red mud in the countryside and into the sea since the 1960, all with the blessing of the authorities.

France: Radioactive Mud

In Provence an alumina refinery has been dumping tonnes of toxic red mud onto land and sea since the 1960, all with the blessing of the authorities.

Toxic Tour

Yetundey is originally from Leipzig and mixes styles and influences. Layla Boe wants to make the German language smoother in her music.

Germany

Girlhood - Women in Rap (1/4)

Whether they have fled, been banished or deported, some exiles find themselves alone, while others form communities in their host countries. But all feel nostalgia and even homesickness. Tracks East goes in search of the exile experience.

Exile

Tracks East goes in search of the exile experience of those who have fled, been banished or deported.

Tracks East

Since its invention in the 19th century, the bicycle has allowed Western women to move around independently. Today, it is the turn of women in Arab countries to discover its power. Though at first glance innocuous and common, the bicycle is unexpectedly feminist.

The Freedom to Cycle

Though at first glance innocuous and common, the bicycle is unexpectedly feminist

Gymnastics

Dee Koala and Dope Saint Jude are young rappers from the Cape region of South Africa. Dope decided to move to London to pursue her musical career whilst Dee has stayed in her local community.

South Africa

Girlhood - Women in Rap (2/4)

A Polish cyber elf, a Ukrainian DJ on the front line, a militant Russian grandmother, and Belarusian hackers... On the face of it, they have little in common. And yet they are all resisting the Russian invasion of Ukraine, fighting back on different fronts.

Resistance

A Polish cyber elf, a Ukrainian DJ on the front line, a militant Russian grandmother, and Belarusian hackers...They are all resisting the Russian invasion of Ukraine on different fronts.

Discover contemporary cycling culture in three European cities: Berlin, the unofficial capital of vintage racing bikes. London, where cycle-cafés also hold speed dating evenings and Amsterdam where cyclists stand out from the crowd with style.

Cycling as Lifestyle

Discover contemporary cycling culture in three European cities: Berlin, London and Amsterdam.

Biking Boom

Russian artists have two choices: silence, or exile. There's been a mass creative exodus in recent weeks, including Russian rap stars like Face and Oxxxymiron. Art rockers IC3PEAK post protest videos that would get them arrested in Russia. TikTok star Nikita Sass bravely continues to post his opinion and stays. Few dare to do that.

Russian Artists Against the War

Russian artists have two choices: silence, or exile

Tracks

Meryl is a new icon of French rap from Martinique. Parisian Lean Chihiro has created a universe inspired by Japanese culture.

France

Girlhood - Women in Rap (3/4)

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Bonuses and Extracts

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Discover more

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On 22 July 2016 a German high-school student David Sonboly killed nine people in a seemingly random attack in a Munich shopping-centre. Why do some young people become mass murderers? A look at radicalisation within extreme-right groups online.

Youth Violence Online

Why do some young people become mass murderers? A look at radicalisation within extreme-right groups online.

Like. Hate. Die

Finnish symphonic metal band Nightwish perform at Hellfest 2022.

Nightwish

Hellfest 2022

Anglo-French guitarist Laura Cox presents the Scorpions, probably the most successful German rock band ever, headlining at Hellfest 2022. For more than five decades the German five-piece has been producing international hits and have sold more than 100 million records.

Anglo-French guitarist Laura Cox presents the Scorpions, probably the most successful German rock band ever, headlining at Hellfest 2022. 

Scorpions

In Europe, the last primary forests are found almost exclusively in the mountains in the east or south-east of the continent. These virgin forests have never been exploited or cut down, and have remained as they have always been. Few studies have been done on this forests, which are presumably havens of biodiversity. We go on a research trip to the Dinaric Alps in Albania.

The Green Lungs of Europe

We go on a research trip to the Dinaric Alps in Albania

Geo Reportage

Why does the European Union allow deadly pesticides banned at home to be exported to developing countries? Brazil, especially, uses large quantities of harmful pesticides imported from Europe with terrible effects on the population’s health.

Why does the European Union allow deadly pesticides banned at home to be exported to developing countries? 

Pesticides: European Hypocrisy

The Russian enclave of Kaliningrad sits between Lithuania and Poland. Once German East Prussia, it is now home to 1 million Russian citizens. What is life like in this small territory now practically cut off from its EU neighbours since the war in Ukraine began?

Kaliningrad: Putin's Enclave

The Russian enclave of Kaliningrad sits between Lithuania and Poland and is now practically cut off from its EU neighbours since the war in Ukraine began.

ARTE Reportage

The trio led by Matthew Bellamy is one of the most explosive and creative forces in rock music over the past two decades. There is no one else quite like Muse. Be impressed by their committed performance at Berlin’s Tempelhof Sounds Festival.

Tempelhof Sounds 2022

 There is no one else quite like Muse. Be impressed by their committed performance at Berlin’s Tempelhof Sounds Festival.

Muse

According to the latest calculations by the OECD, South Korean women could live to be over 92 years old on average in 2070, and men over 89. That would be a world record. What's the secret?

South Korea: An Obsession With Health

South Koreans are on track to be the longest-lived people in the world

As Lithuania stops Russia from transporting goods by train through its territory to Kaliningrad, a focus on the history of this singular Russian territory.

The Kaliningrad Affair

Mapping the World Essentials

Sheffield natives Bring Me The Horizon bring their heterogeneous metal sound to Hellfest 2022.

Bring Me The Horizon

Young Korean musicians have been taking the world of classical music by storm. A new generation are winning the big prizes and pursuing successful careers in Europe and around the world. What makes these Korean classical artists so good? A documentary following the rising stars of K-Classic

The Korean Musical Mystery

Generation K-Classics

In an historic turnaround, Sweden and Finland want to join NATO thus ending their decades-long neutrality. The war in Ukraine has reawakened fears of the Russian neighbour.

Finland and Sweden Opt for NATO

In an historic turnaround, Sweden and Finland want to join NATO thus ending their decades-long neutrality. 

Just a few weeks before the release of their new album, The Sick and the Dying… and the Dead! Thrash metal stars Megadeth perform at Hellfest 2022.

Megadeth

Dutch band Epica returns to Hellfest to present Omega, a new album showing off their inimitable symphonic heavy metal sound.

Epica

The philanthropic foundation set up by US billionaire Bill Gates quietly co-finances experiments with genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in several African countries. In the age of philanthropic capitalism, billionaires "save the world" and make money in the process. But who is helped the most, ordinary Africans or the food industry?

 In the age of philanthropic capitalism, billionaires "save the world" and make money in the process. An investigation into GM experiments in Africa.

Africa, GMOs and Bill Gates

Mixing punk and old-school metal, Welsh band BFMV are set up to tear up Hellfest 2022.

Bullet For My Valentine

JInjer are Ukraine’s official ambassadors of metal. Led by the voice and charisma of singer Tatiana Shmayluk, they are bringing their special blend of progressive groove metal to the world.

Jinjer

Punk rock fans note: The Offspring have released a new album: The Californians perform tracks from their latest work at Hellfest, Let the Bad Times Roll.

The Offspring

Folk, americana, country, rock - the music of The Lumineers is the sound of America. But with III, they take a darker turn as they explore the issue of addiction in three acts, and prove that they are so much more than Ho Hey.

The Lumineers, performing live in Paris, take a darker turn with their record III, which explores the issue of addiction in three acts

The Lumineers at the Zenith in Paris

Drockick Murphys are perhaps the most Irish of American bands. The Bostonians baptize their new album Turn Up That Dial at Hellfest 2022.

Moldova: The Colossal Communist Tower

Red Urbex - Ghost Buildings of the Eastern Block

Red Urbex (1/8)

East Germany: The Red Army Vanishes

Red Urbex (2/8)

Bulgaria: Communism's UFO

Red Urbex (3/8)

Croatia: Tito's Last Folly

Red Urbex (4/8)

Georgia: Stalin's Secret Sanatorium

Red Urbex (5/8)

Albania: The Tyrant's Pyramid

Red Urbex (6/8)

Moldova: Ghosts of the Soviet Circus

Red Urbex (7/8)

Belgrade: A Brutalist Jewel

Red Urbex (8/8)

Moldova: The Colossal Communist Tower

Red Urbex (8/8)Moldova: The Colossal Communist Tower

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