Forbidden France

These outstanding photographic reports aim to draw attention to the often dramatic fate of a country’s abandoned heritage and its frequently forgotten beauty. The locations featured all have their own stories to tell, in a variety of voices, but with one shared theme: the fall from grace Beautiful, haunting photographs of abandoned places in France. The ultimate visual reference in French urban exploration. Castles lost in the mists of time, large hunting estates once used by France’s nobility, historic buildings closed to the public, an abandoned factory once abuzz, an old orphanage in ruins, a grounded Concorde, a disused prison in pastel, a hidden tunnel to protect a collection of vintage cars ... Through his photographs immortalising neglected heritage, Robin Brinaert invites us to explore an entire part of forgotten history whose grandiose details are often hidden by decay. Beyond the beauty of these sleeping wonders, he reveals their uncertain fate and the respect they deserve, to help salvage what can still be saved. This exceptional photographic report is the result of ten years of exploration across France.