These spooky abandoned asylums will haunt your dreams - Urban Photography by Roman Robroek

Former autopsy room in Poland

These eerie images of abandoned asylums from around the world are enough to send a chill down your spine. From crumbling buildings to decaying medical equipments, I often think twice before stepping into any of these empty hospitals.

Long hallway

In this article I cover a haunting series of pictures – which are not for the fainthearted – after visiting a number of asylums that resemble a scene from a horror film. Many of the images feature what used to be treatment chairs, prayer rooms, mailboxes and sleeping quarters.

I have visited the likes of Italy, Germany, Poland and several other countries to shoot asylums but have to admit visiting such locations comes with an air of sadness and I decide to leave after getting the feeling I simply should not be in a certain room.

Beds in former children hospital

Among other buildings, like abandoned castles, churches, factories and theatres, asylums are one of my favourite locations to shoot. The asylums with a lot of decay are the ones I love. Somehow I find there is something secret about asylums – there are rooms I would never see if the asylum was still in use.

Hallway overtaken by nature

More than other locations I feel very privileged to peek inside. The equipment I run into is often so old and interesting – it’s amazing – and next to that it often happens that I find human bones or detailed private psychic reports from years ago.

In my opinion there are two types of abandoned asylums, those that remain in relatively good condition and those that are very decayed. Despite carrying out a large amount of research to find these buildings, I never reveal their exact location, only the country. I do this in order to protect the buildings from graffiti artists and vandals.

This article has also been covered by The Sun in the UK.