Urbex: Salve Mater Psychiatric Hospital, Belgium

Salve Mater Psychiatric Hospital

History

The Partially abandoned Salve Mater Hospital was a psychiatric hospital which catered specifically for women. The complex opened in 1927 and was established by the Sisters of Mercy. The Main administration building closed in 1997 but was then occupied by an Artists named Pascal Baetens in 2003. The final patients left hospital in 2007 which left the remaining buildings unoccupied. Due to lack of maintenance decay has set in in some areas and because of the artist living on site the place has been left relatively free of vandalism with some original items remaining such as beds and wheelchairs. The site boasts a large administration building still occupied by the artist as residential and studio space. Connected to this are the kitchens and main chapel. There is a small morgue which looks to have had 2 autopsy tables at some point in time but only one remains. There are then a number of large ward buildings which surround the admin building, some have been renovated into new house while other remain in a derelict state.

Our Visit

Visited with Andy K of Behind Closed Doors and Scott Darby of Darbians Photography as part of the Grand Designs Tour. I’ve had this place on the to do list for quite some time but it always seemed to be one of those that got bumped for other locations. We found out as we were on route that a significant group of Dutch explorers had arranged a large group visit there, sure enough when we arrived there were loads of cars parked up :). We ventured inside and explored a few of the building bumping into Dutch explorers trying to stay out of their shots 🙂 we met some lovely people there and thanks to those who pointed us in the direction of some of the best bits as we only had a couple of hours of day light left!

Highlights for me have to be the first room we came across with the hospital bed and the pretty awesome morgue as well as the chapel, pity we couldnt make it to the top balcony but the ground floor view was pleasing enough :). I’d certainly revisit.

Salve Mater Psychiatric Hospital

Salve Mater Psychiatric Hospital – Perfectly Framed

Salve Mater Psychiatric Hospital

Salve Mater Psychiatric Hospital – Witch

Salve Mater Psychiatric Hospital

Salve Mater Psychiatric Hospital – Blood in the halls, blood on the walls…

Salve Mater Psychiatric Hospital – Shadow Monster

Salve Mater Psychiatric Hospital – X-ray

Salve Mater Psychiatric Hospital – Bay Window

Salve Mater Psychiatric Hospital – Umbrella

Salve Mater Psychiatric Hospital

Salve Mater Psychiatric Hospital – TV Time

Salve Mater Psychiatric Hospital

Salve Mater Psychiatric Hospital – Chapel

Salve Mater Psychiatric Hospital – Morgue

Salve Mater Psychiatric Hospital

Enjoyed this post? want to see more from Salve Mater? then check out Behind Closed Doors for their report: Salve Mater

If you’ve made it this far… thanks for reading / checking out the pictures. Leave me a comment below or hit the like button to let me know you’ve enjoyed the shots and to encourage me to keep posting more 🙂

Canvas prints and regular prints are available for all of the images above just ask me about prices.

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Proj3ctM4yh3m

Google+: http://plus.google.com/u/1/116447183232474936433/posts

500px: http://500px.com/proj3ctm4yh3m

flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/proj3ctm4yh3m/

Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/proj3ctm4yh3m

Twitter: https://twitter.com/PROJ3CTM4YH3M

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/PROJ3CTM4YH3M/videos

Instagram: http://instagram.com/projectmayhemurbex

Tumblr: http://proj3ctm4yh3m.tumblr.com/