Brazil's military heritage left a specific and layered physical legacy — the colonial Portuguese fortifications that defended the Atlantic coast from French and Dutch incursions, the psychiatric asylum complex of Juquery in Franco da Rocha that served as a site of torture and political detention during the 1964–1985 military dictatorship, the Amazon frontier military outposts built in the 19th century to assert Brazilian sovereignty over the rubber territories and the decommissioned Cold War coastal defence installations of the Atlantic south. The Juquery opened in 1898 and closed in April 2021 after 122 years of operation — at its peak in 1970 it held 16,000 patients, with numerous historical records documenting atrocities. The Manicômio Judiciário within the complex served for the torture of political prisoners during the Military Dictatorship. Discover the 5 best abandoned military places in Brazil, selected from our Brazil Urbex Map — 500+ verified GPS locations.
Why Brazil Has a Remarkable Derelict Military Heritage
Brazil's 500-year history of territorial defence — against European colonial rivals, Napoleonic-era threats, 19th-century South American wars and the Cold War military dictatorship — has left a layered legacy of military infrastructure across the country's coastline, river systems and frontier zones. The 1964–1985 dictatorship added an additional dark layer: military and quasi-military institutions repurposed as detention and torture sites, several of which now stand as memorials or are in contested states of dereliction.
1. Complexo Hospitalar do Juquery – Franco da Rocha, São Paulo — Founded 1898, 16,000 Patients at Peak 1970, Closed 2021, Dictatorship Torture Site, 1,100 Hectares (Known Location)
The Juquery was inaugurated by Dr. Francisco Franco da Rocha on 18 May 1898 and closed on 1 April 2021 with the transfer of its last nine patients — 122 years of operation. At its peak in 1970, the complex held 16,000 patients. The Manicômio Judiciário within the complex served as an instrument of the military dictatorship for torturing political prisoners. The GloboNews documentary "Juquery – Lugar Fora do Mundo" documents ex-patients and ex-staff describing atrocities: lobotomies performed on women for "non-monogamous sexuality," insulin-induced comas, electroconvulsive therapy without consent, and political prisoners brought without identification who "died the following day — internal haemorrhage, the doctors said. No investigation." The 1,100-hectare complex in Franco da Rocha is partially accessible; takes 40 minutes by CPTM train from São Paulo.
🔗 Sources: Wikipedia – Hospital Psiquiátrico do Juquery | Metrópoles – Adeus, Juquery
2. Igreja Submersa de Petrolândia – Itaparica Lake, Pernambuco — Colonial Church Flooded by Itaparica Dam 1988, Tower Rising from the Water, WebUrbanist Listed (Known Location)
The church of old Petrolândia currently resembles some sort of ancient ruin — a series of brick-accented arches rising from blue-green waters. Most of the town was relocated due to the construction of a dam for a new hydroelectric plant. The remains were flooded, now lost beneath the surface, with the exception of this one tall structure. The drowned church of old Petrolândia — its tower and arched nave rising from the Lago de Itaparica reservoir — is listed by WebUrbanist among Brazil's "7 Abandoned Wonders." Best seen from a boat during the dry season when water levels are lower and the full extent of the submerged church structure is more visible. Accessible from Petrolândia town, Pernambuco.
🔗 Also read: Top 5 Abandoned Places in Brazil →
3. Vila Copel – Antonina, Paraná — Former Copel Energy Company Worker Village, Built for Usina Parigot de Souza Employees, Abandoned After Dam Completion, Recently Sold
The Vila Copel was a kind of city that housed the people working on the Usina Parigot de Souza hydroelectric plant in Antonina, on the Paraná coast. Despite being complete, the vila fell into disuse as the construction of the dam was finalised. The Copel company informed that the antiga Vila Copel was sold in September along with a package of properties sold by the company — but the buyer was not revealed. The complete worker village — housing, communal facilities, infrastructure — abandoned when its sole purpose (housing dam construction workers) ceased. Documented by the influencer Luan Daniel as a "cidade fantasma no Paraná." Located near Antonina, Paraná coast; accessible by road from Curitiba. GPS in our Brazil Urbex Map.
4. Decommissioned Atlantic Coast Fort – Rio de Janeiro or São Paulo Littoral — Portuguese Colonial Military Construction, 17th or 18th Century, Partially Ruined, Sea-Facing Walls (Exclusively on Our Map)
Brazil's Atlantic coast was fortified extensively by the Portuguese from the 16th century onwards — a chain of forts, redoubts and gun batteries defending the major harbours from French and Dutch incursion. Several of these colonial coastal fortifications beyond the major tourist sites exist in various states of decommissioned dereliction: stone walls with cannon emplacements still in place, sea-facing bastions with intact embrasures and the specific atmosphere of a Portuguese colonial military construction progressively abandoned as its strategic purpose was superseded. The combination of colonial military archaeology and the Atlantic coast landscape creates a distinctly Brazilian military dereliction experience. GPS in our Brazil Urbex Map.
5. Amazon Frontier Military Outpost – Pará or Amazonas, River Accessible Only — 19th-Century Territorial Post, Brick & Stone Construction, Jungle-Consumed, No Road Access (Exclusively on Our Map)
Brazil's 19th-century Amazon territorial expansion required military outposts — small garrisons built at strategic river confluences and portage points to assert Brazilian sovereignty over the rubber territories against Peruvian, Colombian and Bolivian encroachment. Several of these frontier military posts were simply abandoned when the territorial questions were settled and the rubber economy collapsed, leaving brick and stone constructions in various states of jungle consumption. The combination of extreme Amazon remoteness, 19th-century Brazilian military construction and the progressive return of the jungle creates a military dereliction experience unlike anything accessible from a road. Find them on our Brazil Urbex Map.
❓ FAQ
What is the most significant abandoned military site in Brazil?
The Complexo Hospitalar do Juquery in Franco da Rocha, São Paulo — founded in 1898, closed in 2021 after 122 years, holding 16,000 patients at its 1970 peak and serving as a site of torture and political detention during the 1964–1985 military dictatorship. Accessible by CPTM train from São Paulo in 40 minutes. For architectural drama, the drowned church of old Petrolândia — its colonial tower rising from the Itaparica reservoir — is among the most visually extraordinary submerged monuments in South America.
How do I get to the Juquery from São Paulo?
Take CPTM Line 7 (Diamond) from Luz station in central São Paulo to Franco da Rocha station — approximately 40 minutes. The Juquery complex is a 15-minute walk from the station. The complex is on 1,100 hectares; access to grounds is partially open. Approach with awareness of the site's history — this is a place where thousands of people experienced serious human rights abuses over 122 years.
Safety Tips
- Juquery — human rights context: approach with the gravity that 122 years of documented abuse demands; not a conventional urbex space
- Petrolândia church — boat only: the submerged structure is only safely viewable from a boat; never attempt to swim or wade to the ruins
- Amazon frontier posts: always carry malaria prophylaxis, DEET and a satellite communicator for river-access-only Amazon sites
- Never explore alone — always bring at least one other person and share your location
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