In today’s episode, we are exploring a widely branched network of cellars
located deep under a major city.
This place has been an insiders' tip among the local urbex community for years.
These vaults are the last remaining sections of a historic market hall
which was built in the 19th century and demolished some decades ago.
Only a few meters above this relict of former times
people are going on with their daily routines
having no idea what spectacular views are down here.
In some cases multiple-centimeter-thick and many meters long roots extend across the underground.
Until this day we hadn’t set eyes on something like this.
Since this place will be a huge construction site in the near future
and because all the access points were blocked up lately we decided to go with the real name of this abandoned site.
Join our descent into the remains of the old Markthalle Leipzig.
Hidden very well between bushes we found the entrance to the underworld.
This tiny hole was our first challenge.
How in the world is a fully grown man supposed to fit through this?
Well, somehow we managed.
The second challenge was the bad air down there which made it hard to breathe.
There were probably many different kinds of fungal spores, too.
So we decided to play it safe and use our respiratory masks.
"We’re right at the street. We can hear folks when they’re passing by.”
"It says Exit 1. This is apparently the other entrance.“
"Yep.“
Quickly, we realized that the whole site was in a very bad condition.
This, however, was to be expected but the third big challenge for us.
From time to time, we heard noises from the surface.
In these instances, the silence of the underground was broken by the muffled boom of the tramways or a howling siren.
The market hall was built between the years 1889 and 1891 in the center of the Eastern German town Leipzig.
At the same time, the bustle started in here, it was the end of the local open-air market places.
Around the year 1900 this picture was taken which shows the 7.500 square meter building.
This view of the big atrium shows over 600 different market stalls which all could be provided in the ground floor.
The photo dates back to 1917.
From meat and vegetables to baked goods and wood products nearly everything was traded here.
It is said that there were rooms for a restaurant and even for vets.
There was a water reservoir inside a big tower, acting as motor for six hydraulic load lifts in total.
These elevators could reach several floors and they were mainly used for the transport of the cooled goods from the underground depot to the market area.
Already at that time people were wondering how spacious the basement vaults must be.
Next to the refrigeration system steam boilers and machines were working down here.
The structure of an old hoist is the last remnant of the historic market hall above the surface.
„Old people!“
"This is team Blue, I repeat: This is team Blue!”
"We are surrounded, there are old people on the other side too! Pensioners, they’re everywhere!”
"The demographic change gets us all!”
When you are examining the neglected area on the surface carefully
you will find quite a lot of access points which were sealed up.
In the underground, there are many entrances which were filled up with earth, too.
Particularly impressive is the enormous root system in the underground.
Roots of trees which were only a few meters above our heads were breaking through the ceiling everywhere.
Over all these years some of them reached unbelievable proportions.
"Take a look at this giant root underneath you.“
"That’s sick to see how it’s growing in here.“
"It looks like it was painted on the wall. It’s so dainty..."
"Over there is a much bigger root.“
"It’s coming from the street, breaking through the bricks and growed all the way down.”
An exciting fact is that you can find objects from different ages down here too.
There are fresh tracks of other explorers
but also things from a very long time ago and stuff from between these periods.
Deep inside the tunnels it was pitch-black.
So we needed lamps that can provide plenty of power.
We were glad that we were kindly equipped by Capulux – The Urbex Store.
Capulux is one of the first online shops which focuses on urban explorers only
beginners, but also advanced adventurers.
Here you can find reliable equipment which has been tested in practice.
But enough with this commercial break for now, let’s continue with the history lesson.
Air raids in World War II hit the building and the surroundings hard.
However, immediately after the war the market opened again as you can see on this picture from 1950.
At this time, the hall still lied partly in ruins.
That’s the reason the market hall was considered as blight in times of the former German Democratic Republic
and so it was completely torn down in 1959.
Only the underground parts remained and were used from time to time.
Something new was supposed to be created here but nothing happened for decades.
The whole site fallowed.
Until today, around 60 years later.
Recently, there were a lot of debates about possible development plans.
There even was talk of a big freedom monument.
Surprisingly the debates finally achieved a breakthrough only a few months ago.
In June 2017, the city decided on a master plan
which provides that there will be a totally new market hall in the near future.
Living quarters and offices are planned as well.
While there was a lot of talk about what should happen with the surface of the site
we were always interested in what’s beneath it.
So we were really glad when we finally made the descent into this underworld.
In addition to one or the other rat we discovered a beautiful type of decay that was completely new to us.
Giant roots in the dark underground and marks of bygone times made these vaults to an unreal place.
Although the cellars presumably are going to belong to the past
we will never forget all these unique views.
We hope you liked today’s history lesson.
This exploration of the underground was a really special experience.
Take a look at the website of our partner Capulux – The Urbex Store.
You'll find the link in the video description down below.
There’s also a promo code which you can use to get a 15% discount on your orders.
We hope you liked today’s history lesson.
This exploration of the underground was a really special experience.
Take a look at the website of our partner Capulux – The Urbex Store.
You’ll find the link in the video description down below.
There’s also a promo code which you can use to get a 15% discount on your orders.