david altrath captures eerie stillness of bonnland, an abandoned military village in germany

bonnland, a deserted village frozen in time

In his latest photographic series, David Altrath captures the unsettling quietude of Bonnland, an abandoned German village with a fascinating history of displacement. Located within the Hammelburg military training area in Lower Franconia, Bonnland has been off-limits to civilians for decades, functioning as a sealed-off military training village since 1965. Altrath’s photo series offers a rare, almost cinematic glimpse into what he describes as a silent stage set ‘with alleyways without sounds, houses without life — a backdrop for scenarios that never took place.’

all images by David Altrath

david altrath captures the village’s surreal dualities

The village was first cleared in 1938 during the expansion of the military zone under the German army. Though some residents returned after the Second World War, they were permanently resettled in 1965 when the Bundeswehr took control of the site. Since then, Bonnland has remained intact but uninhabited, with some of its buildings being utilized for tactical training exercises by the German armed forces. Despite its role as a stage for such rehearsed scenarios, the village remains physically untouched while remaining listed as a cultural heritage site.

Capturing this eerie history, David Altrath’s perspective of the village captures a surreal duality and presents it as a preserved shell of rural life. The homes are intact though uninhabited, narrow alleys are devoid of any sound, and derelict vehicles seem suspended in time. The German photographer portrays a setting that feels paradoxically alive and lifeless, amplifying the uncanny realism of a built landscape repurposed for fiction.

David Altrath presents photo series, Bonnland

an abandoned military village in Germany

an almost cinematic glimpse into what Altrath describes as a silent stage set

the images capture an unsettling quietude

Bonnland has long remained intact but uninhabited

some of its buildings being utilized for tactical training exercises by the German armed forces.

the village remains physically untouched while remaining listed as a cultural heritage site

the village was first cleared in 1938 during the expansion of the military zone under the German army

derelict and active vehicles seem suspended in time

the German photographer portrays a setting that feels paradoxically alive and lifeless

Altrath’s lens amplifies the uncanny realism of a built landscape repurposed for fiction

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project info:

name: Bonnland

photographer: David Altrath | @davidaltrath