1: Definition
Urban exploration , or Urbex for short, is a hobby that involves going to abandoned buildings such as hospitals, schools, factories, sewers, tunnels, and any other building that society has left behind, with the intention of exploring them .
It's a hobby that has existed for several decades. It has gained popularity in recent years , mainly because of the Internet.
People who engage in this hobby of exploring abandoned buildings are called urban explorers .
2: The rules
As you already know, urban exploration is a dangerous hobby . It therefore makes sense to have a set of rules to follow in order to both stay safe and avoid trouble.
➽ Do not enter buildings unaccompanied
➽ Do not vandalize a building
➽ Accept that some places are off-limits.
➽ Don't steal anything in a place you're exploring
3: The law
For those new to urban exploration, one question often comes up: Is it legal to explore abandoned buildings? The answer is not always as simple as a yes or no.
Most of the places we visit are technically someone's property, even if they appear abandoned. Even the absence of fences or "no trespassing" signs doesn't necessarily mean they're ownerless.
Entering an abandoned building without permission constitutes unauthorized entry, which is illegal.
However, there are exceptions. Some abandoned places are open to the public and can be legally explored.
To avoid problems, it's important to do some preliminary research. A simple Google search can tell you whether access is allowed or not.
In many cases, it's even possible to ask the landowners for permission. By explaining your intention to photograph or document the location, you might obtain their consent to explore the site legally.
