Papírně Fuchsova
Papírně Fuchsova is an abandoned paper mill and power plant in the Czech Republic. For more than 180 years, paper was made here. Today, the old buildings remind visitors of the town’s industrial past.
- Built: 1840
- Abandoned: 1991
- Status: Endangered
- Visited: 2023
The story of Papírně Fuchsova started in the early 1840s. Jan Jiří Asten first planned to build a sawmill and rasp factory, but the site soon became a paper mill. By 1840, the factory was producing paper and employed 19 workers.
The mill grew over the next years. New machines, steam power, and workshops improved production. Even so, the business struggled with money problems. In 1868, the factory was sold to Ignác Fuchs from Prague. He modernized the site, and the paper mill became known as Papírně Fuchsova, or Fuchs Paper Mill.
Severočeské Papírny
During the early 20th century, the factory continued to expand. But the economic crisis, followed by the Second World War, slowed its growth. After the war, the mill became part of Severočeské Papírny. In 1952, workers installed a new La Mont boiler from Germany. This increased steam production and helped the factory produce more cellulose and paper.
The factory received more upgrades during the 1960s. New technology improved production, reduced hard manual work, and added better wastewater treatment.
The Abandonment
After the fall of communism in 1989, many Czech industries faced hard times. Papírně Fuchsova could not compete with the changing market. Large parts of the factory closed and were left behind.
Not every building became empty. In 2005, the company Papírna APIS moved into part of the complex. It still recycles waste paper and produces wrapping paper and grey cardboard paper. Because of this, only a small part of the historic factory stands abandoned today.
The abandoned section still contains large industrial halls, old boilers, rusty machines, and the former power plant. Broken windows let in daylight, while plants slowly take over the empty buildings. The power station is one of the most impressive parts of the complex and shows how the factory once generated the energy needed for paper production.
