Hotel Máj in Ústí nad Labem is one of the most striking abandoned buildings in the Czech Republic - a huge socialist-era hotel now known as the largest squat in the country. For fans of urban exploration and Brutalist-era architecture, it is a must-see stop, even just from the outside.

The building stands in the Severní Terasa housing estate and dominates the skyline with its bold, typically 1980s form. The surrounding residential area contrasts sharply with the decaying hotel facade, and the atmosphere shifts with the seasons - in winter the building looks even more desolate, while in summer the surrounding greenery softens the scene a little. This is not a typical mountain hiking destination, but an intriguing stop for travelers exploring the Ústí nad Labem region who are curious about post-war Czechoslovak architecture and history.

How to get there

• Ústí nad Labem city center — public transport to the Severní Terasa estate, Hoření street, about 20-30 minutes, easy route

Practical information

• The building is officially unoccupied but inhabited by homeless people - caution is advised when viewing it
• Entering the building is dangerous and not recommended - best admired from the outside
• The city wants to demolish the building, but the legal situation makes this difficult, so it still stands

The hotel once boasted a restaurant, wine bar and a special hall called the Golden Rooster serving poultry specialties, with interiors designed by renowned Czech artists - today only memories and crumbling walls remain of that former glamour.