Before Mother Nature, all are equal.
Decay and growth are just two sides of the same coin.
And spoiler alert: We all are going to die at some point -
which is just perfectly illustrated by this collection of dozens of vintage cars we came across on our travels.
Once worth millions, such collector's pieces are usually kept alive at a great cost.
But here, just a pile of junk is left - deteriorating and vanishing:
That is the circle of life.
In today's episode, we explore a surreal park located in a German forest.
This is no car cemetery -
and for sure, it is not a scrapyard or sales area either.
In fact, it is a metaphor for life.
Because in the end, nothing matters anymore.
Even the most expensive possessions become irrelevant and riddled with decay.
So, why even bother with earning a lot of money or collecting fancy stuff?
If you think that this is depressing, then this is a video for you.
Join us in exploring a place where life is ending -
but also starting.
Hi guys and welcome to today’s video.
Today we’ve got a big announcement to make and actually need your help too.
So make sure to watch the video until the end and I see you there.
This looks like a car graveyard - but it is not.
The difference here is that the vehicles and their stories were staged.
It is basically art - arranged by an eccentric German car dealer, designer, and constructor.
His name is Michael Fröhlich, and he came up with a strange new project in the year 2000.
It started with an unusual present he made himself for his 50th birthday:
50 classic cars built in 1950 - the same year he was born.
All of them were precious at the beginning.
But through the years, this has changed - on purpose.
Michael Fröhlich bought the cars to let them rot.
Yup, I am serious.
Millions were spent just to make a point:
In his controversial project, the German artist wants to show the undeniable supremacy of Mother Nature.
In the first couple of years, there were just dirty cars
but 20 years later, nature has given all of them a fresh coat of paint.
Rust and decomposition created new colorways and surface textures.
For some, it is art - for others, it is irresponsible.
Either way, the more decay the more curious visitors get attracted.
This is an original piece of the Berlin Wall -
representing the German partition but also reunion.
After winning the Oldtimer Grand Prix at a German racing track,
his white Jaguar was the first vehicle Michael Fröhlich dumped in these woods.
The second one was the Porsche of his competitor.
Then 48 other automobiles followed from all around the world.
Every car represents a different piece of history -
just like this Russian Moskvich that symbolizes the collapse of its country.
We do not know much about car brands though.
So, if you see something interesting in this video and can tell us more about that car's story, let us know in the comments.
However, it is better not to spend too much time finding out the models -
since this is not about the differences but similarities.
Nature makes sure that all of these cars are equal.
Also, it is not only classic cars you can find here.
On the 20,000 square meter compound, you can discover way more.
Many of the pieces are presented humorously, and you can always discover something new and interesting.
When Michael Fröhlich completed his collection in the year 2000, there was an extensive celebration -
testified by countless empty bottles that you can still find in the old Citroën today.
If you wonder why nothing has ever been stolen:
Of course, there is a guard dog -
even though he seems more interested in the vegan menu than our guts.
Since the natural deterioration would take substantially longer, the artist is accelerating the decay.
For that, he is pouring milk or saltwater onto the cars regularly.
And needless to say: Oil and other contaminants were removed before Fröhlich dumped his cars in the woods.
While they are getting destroyed beyond repair and deteriorating more and more,
these vehicles also serve as a biosphere for something new -
because as life is ending, it is also beginning.
As we look around this surreal park we clearly see that everything is transient, and nothing endures.
It all falls apart in the end - just like these luxury car wrecks.
Maybe it is sad to know that nothing you achieve will really last -
and that everything you own will not have a purpose in the long run.
But for us, this is actually a soothing thought.
Transience can be motivating to affirm our existence right at this moment and to shape it joyfully.
It is not money you need for that, or any possessions -
this stuff will not last anyway, you see?
So, why even bother?
But that is just an opinion.
What do you think?
If you are interested in exploring this special kind of outdoor museum yourself,
we provided all the info in the video description down below.
The photos we featured in this video were shot by our friend @tobi_urbex.
Find more of his stills on Instagram.
For the link take a look at our video description.
Alright I know we said it several times already but this time we’re really up to our biggest project so far.
Until now we’ve only been on trips of two weeks maximum.
This time we’re planning a six weeks adventure.
We’re going through the Balkans - our main destination is Albania.
The exciting thing about it is that we don’t really know if we can make it in time.
We’re going with my Lada Niva which has a very good talent in breaking down when you don’t need it at all.
So let’s see how that is working out.
There’s another difference with this trip because we don’t only want to explore ruins.
We also want to explore the countries and tell the story of the people.
So that is actually what we need your help for.
If you got a contact, a good story we can cover or something interesting in those countries please just let us know.
You can use our e mail or social media for contacting us.
That’s pretty much it.
Thanks a lot for watching and see you next time.
Stay curious.
If you want to know more about the creator of this park we recommend watching the video report we showed to you earlier.
You can find the link in the video description as well.
And for us: We can’t wait to embark on our biggest road trip so far!
We will keep you posted with updates.
Stay curious and keep exploring!