Villas and Greenhouses UCM Tour
I grew up hearing about places various places inside the town's industrial sites. My dad's job is literally going to all those places and checking if their stuff still works. So he knows his way around the entire area. He particularly likes the area where there are the old villas and greenhouses. He's shown them to me in old photographs and we looked at them through the camera zoom from the cemetery on the neighboring hill. Not that you can see more than just parts of the rooftops.
So when I caught wind of a tour to this side of UCM I jumped right in.
Before I photo dump I first want to thank the organizers and guides for making this possible. So thank you to Fundatia Comunitara Banatul Montan, Muzeul Cineastului Amator si Via Transilvanica!
This was just one tour organized for the event and I did not anticipate how crowded the starting area was going to be. Nor did it cross my mind that Via Transilvanica would have a merch stand. I only had a little bit of cash on me and I had to be strategic with it.
Finally spotted Andrei's signature cap in the crowd. I swear I don't think I'll recognize him if I see him without it at this point. He was gonna be our guide once again. So I hovered around with my camera till everyone got there and the other groups of way more active people went on the other trails.
The tour started off with a few words about the historically important objectives we were standing close to.....and I ignored most of that. Not because it's not interesting, it is. The biggest reason I ignored it is cause I'm a dumbass. Second reason is: it's my back yard and I pass by them on my way to get bread everyday. I do keep telling myself I'll put together a zine and blogpost about it someday. And the third reason: I got a bit too excited to practice street photography. A crowded event is the perfect place to do that without feeling awkward about it. But I'll try to do a cliff notes version.
The pretty building behind Andrei is the theatre, known as the Cultural Palace, one of the very few original building from the area. Most of them were torn down and the whole place got rebuilt during the communist regime.
Obscured by the group is the old iron bridge that was at the town's customs house.
And above everyone towers one of the reasons that the old buildings were torn down. The funicular that was used to transport lime stone from the quarry.
From there we walked to the factory stopping along the way to hear some more stories. That pharmacy used to be up in the factory policlinic.
What were the chances of synchronizing my camera with the moment the phone screen goes black while taking a picture?
OMG we're actually going in!
I've heard so many storis during my life of stuff that was made i that hall back there.
This is the Laboratory building where my dad used to work. He still has the same job but the labs moved across the city. Fun fact, the entrance that you see is actually the second story (3rd for Americans). That's cause it's built on a hill and the "ground level" entrance is on the other side. And to makes matter worse it has several sub-basements.
The next is the Engineer's Villa or the Technical Library. This is also a museum but we didn't get to go in cause we were way too many to accommodate.
There was a point where this building was used as a balneoclimateric spa. I know cause my granddad was there for treatments for two week way back when.
We followed along the same road through a cool tunnel of vegetation. onor left, down the hill we passed some big halls that I couldn't photograph, I wasn't supposed to anyway. So I stuck with taking pictures of the group and our guides.
I particularly liked the view to the old steelworks from here.
The dogs were our constant companions. They joined us since we entered and came along the entire way.
They we're telling us about the things that were made or fixed in this factory.
And then we got to the Director's Villa, and the entrance to one of the many bunkers housed in the factory. A lot of the children in the group were especially disappointed that we didn't go into the bunkers.
The pink building is the Electrical Motors hall if I remember correctly. I loved the architecture and the color. I imagined most of the industrial buildings would be more drab or rusty colors. and some were.
The kids seemed so bored at this point.
Our third host, who I somehow kept not photographing well, walked with that big green watering can. I kept wondering why, cause I was sure it wasn't just a eccentric handbag.
I noticed how well this lady's jacket matched the building, so I'm very happy with the color harmony in this picture.
Moving forward it became hard to believe we were in a factory anymore.
My dad says that on top of these trees looking gorgeous, this spot has a lot of crocus flowers!
Also look at the trees around this rounded building! This is the old Administrative building.
And next to it...
Excuse me, WHAT!? This was a guest house. This looks so out of place.
The dogs we're still with us and we were warned that soon there will be more.
And just when I was thinking the architecture couldn't get further from "we're in a factory" enter the RED VILLA. Oh my God. Look at it!
This is the building that housed the policlinic where that pharmacy used to function. And it was apparently accessible for outsiders if you had a referral or appointment here.
The piano was a hit among the group.
I can't rezist a good mirror selfie in a nice looking window.
And as foretold...
The thing is that there's an old apartment building that's still inhabited. It's so weird to me the concept of living up here. it's so isolated. And I still don't grasp exactly where the factory ends and the "outside" starts cause the building is on the outside. But we had to go up those stairs and in front of it to climb up to the greenhouses.
After the initial barking concert and Andrei bribing them with treats the dogs here warmed up to us.
The greenhouses are abandoned and in disrepair. They have recently been acquired by the foundation hosting this tour. They are currently raising funds to pay it off and turn it into something useful to the community in the name of historical preservation. It is at this point that the watering can was revealed to be the donation urn!
The greenhouses once grew food for the factory mess hall kitchen but also kept interesting plants and trees for the landscaping inside the factory. According to my dad there were about 20 people working here and landscaping the trails and parks that are scattered around. (yes, there are other hidden gems that I didn't get to see)
I could spend hours here exploring. I love abandoned places. I didn't mind that the group was crowding the area and I tried to take advantage of that.
Oh, hi!
I found a dirty old mirror in one of the building so obviously...
These guys followed us all the way back to town.
The red villa from behind. Still can't believe this is in a factory. And I just realized that for some of the people living in the apartment building up there this si their view out the window.
We went back on a road that's on the outside of the fence.
Back on familiar grounds, my neighborhood in the background.
This tour was amazing and I do hope that in the future I will get to visit more. There's so much family history that's tied to the buildings inside that fence. And I really hope that all the conservation struggles pay off. Thank you again to out guides!
Meow.