## Chemnitz — German city with Slavic name

Some intro

Pre-scriptum. Just before the events described here I (Mutabor) had tried to repair my digital camera and as a result it had become working even worse... So I apologise for the quality of some pictures.

For three months I had been living in German city Chemnitz. Its name come from Kemnitz river, whose name has the Slavic origin, it means "Stone river".

Being for the first time in East Germany, I was amazed by the enormous number of various lost places: plants, factories, houses and so on (pic 1–7). Sometimes ago the city was called Saxonian Manchester, it was the big industrial center. But after unification of Germany and de-indutrialization many enterprises were stopped, people had migrated to West Germany and a lot of property was abandoned. Unfortunately at that time (2009) I was too shy cautious and didn't risk to explore such places. I didn't know, that if in Germany one did not see workers and guards in such place, this just ment that indeed there are no them there...

Walking in the city, I'd met a curious place: the slope of a hill was in some places forced with an old brickwork with numerous doors and windows and even one airtight door, which are often met in shelters (pic 8–14). But all entrances appeared close so I could not get in.

Another interesting place was the abandoned reilway leading to the cargo station (pic 15–21). And in some other place I had found an abandoned old railway bridge (pic 22).

Disappearing brook

Looking at Chemnitz map, I'd found out that one brook was disappearing at some point. I had checked this place and found a large sewer there! (pic 23). But I had no idea where was the outlet of this sewer. So I'd decided to look it for. At first I'd found the outlet, but related to another brook (pic 24, 25) and an interesting water-controlling mechanism (pic 26). And finally I had found my loss: it had appeared that Pleißenbach brook flows into the pond (pic 27). I had also walked by Kemnitz banks and found many drain outlets (pic 28–30)!

So I had decided to explore some Chemnitz underground. But I had nothing to put on for this trip: I had only one suit which I didn't want to make dirty. So I was looking for some clothes and soon had found a jacket, trouses and what is most important, protective helmet for my head with the two holders for beer cans or bottles :) (pic 31, 32).

And to the end of this intro here is two pictures of Chemnitz trams (pic 33, 34). I like trams and make pictures of them when see.

Part two. Pleißenbach sewer inside

In one nice evening I had explored the sewer of Pleißenbach which turned out to have a surprise: a large hall in the middle (pic 35–46).

Part three. Main sanitary sewer or Duke Nukem of Chemnitz

Once walking in Chemnitz I'd found out some sewer outlet. And after some time I had got through its leaves and explored the sewer. It was dry and appeared to be an emergency overflow from the main sanitary sewer. The sewer itself was full of liquid faeces flowing as a powerful stream, so it was impossible to explore it. But the hall in the place where the overflow met the main sewer was quite impressive and resembled scenes from old PC game "Duke Nukem" (pic 47–57).

Part four. How fine are sunsets under Kemnitz!

At the very beginning of my stay in Chemnitz I had found an abandoned railway bridge (pic 22). And after some time I had explored it and had chance to make beautiful pictures of the sunset. (pic 58–65)

Part five and last. Guileful brook Gablenzbach

Living in Chemnitz, I had strong desire to explore the brook seen at first days (pic 25). Then I had mat Daniil, another Russian guy living in Chemnitz and once we desided to explore this brook. But everything came not as expected. So the continuation of the story has appeared in the section "Warnings".

With this my stay in Chemnitz had come to end. I have left there many non-disclosed secrets. So I certainly shall come back there!

Copyleft Plutonia 2009
Don't forget your number!

<< |  |
>> | Close

Back
Top
òÕÓ