Artem, a 40-year-old Ukrainian commander, shouts a warning before his artillery team fires toward Russian positions near Pokrovsk in early October 2024. (Photo by Serhiy Nuzhnenko/Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty)

Grand banqueting halls, opulent lobbies and vast ballrooms; you could easily be forgiven for thinking this was a collection of photographs was documenting some of Europe’s grandest hotels. However, a closer look will reveal the majestic rooms to be engulfed in swathes of dust and moss; hotels that once hosted royals and high society abandoned to the elements. This is the latest result of urban exploration photography, going beyond “no entry” signs to capture images of dilapidated buildings across Europe. IT worker Thomas Windisch, from Graz in Austria, indulged his passion for photography by traveling across the continent, visiting over 100 abandoned hotels along the way. Here: inside a hotel in Austria. (Photo by Thomas Windisch/Caters News)

A year after hundreds of thousands of migrants and refugees snaked their way across southeastern Europe and onto television screens worldwide, the roads through the Balkans are now clear, depriving an arguably worsening tragedy of its poignant visibility. Reuters photographer, Antonio Bronic revisiting the people-packed locations where he and his colleagues captured last year's diaspora, found empty roads, unencumbered railway tracks and bucolic countryside. (Photo by Antonio Bronic/Reuters)

Dogs rest during the Sedivackuv Long dog sled race in Destne v Orlickych horach January 23, 2015. Each year, racers from all over Europe arrive at the village of Destne in the Orlicke mountains in Czech Republic to take part in the race. (Photo by David W. Cerny/Reuters)

Festival-goers enjoy on Shipyard Island, the venue of the 24th Sziget (Island) Festival in Northern Budapest, Hungary, 12 August 2016. The festival is one of the biggest cultural events of Europe presenting art exhibitions, theatrical and circus performances and music concerts. (Photo by Polyák Attila/Origo.hu)

Paul, 9, dumps a bucket of water over his head at a fountain near government buildings during hot weather on July 1, 2015 in Berlin, Germany. Temperatures across northern Europe are rising and in Germany a high of 36 degrees is forecast for the weekend. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

Balloons are inflated at the Bristol International balloon fiesta in south west England August 6, 2015. Now in its 37th year, the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta is Europe's largest annual hot air balloon event in the city that is seen by many balloonists as the home of modern ballooning. (Photo by Toby Melville/Reuters)