A view of one of the stands during the inauguration of the Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) fair, the largest audiovisual show in the world, in Barcelona city, Catalonia, north-eastern Spain, 31 January 2023. The event runs until 03 February, gathers 68,000 registered attendees and 1,055 exhibiting companies. (Photo by Quique Garcia/EPA)

Smoke and steam billow from Belchatow Power Station, Europe's largest coal-fired power plant powered by lignite, operated by Polish utility PGE, in Rogowiec, Poland on November 22, 2023. (Photo by Kacper Pempel/Reuters)

Costumed revellers perform in the parade during the Notting Hill Carnival in London, Monday, August 27, 2018. The carnival has been held every year since 1966 and one of the largest festival celebrations of its kind in Europe. (Photo by Tim Ireland/AP Photo)

Lava gushes from the southern side crater of Mt. Etna, Europe's largest active volcano, near Catania, southern Italy Sicily, early Tuesday, May 25, 2021. (Photo by Salvatore Allegra/AP Photo)

Long streams of red-hot lava flow down the southeast crater of Mount Etna, Europe's tallest and most active volcano, seen from Zafferana Etnea, Italy, June 11, 2022. (Photo by Antonio Parrinello/Reuters)

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)

Toyota Motor unveils a concept car the “PM”, is on display at a press preview for the Tokyo Motor Show in Makuhari, east of Tokyo October 23, 2003. PM is a single seater personal vehicle whose cabin posture changes from upright to reclined as speed increases. (Photo by Koichi Kamoshida/Getty Images)