Hotel Belvédère
Perched at the top of Furka Pass, this abandoned 19th-century hotel is one of the most striking decay subjects in the Alps, its faded yellow facade and empty windows sitting directly against a backdrop of rugged mountain terrain and the shrinking Rhône Glacier below. You can work the building from multiple angles along the roadside, framing the peeling architecture against dramatic alpine skies or using the winding pass road as a leading line toward the structure. The building photographs beautifully in overcast light, which softens harsh mountain shadows and brings out the melancholy atmosphere; golden hour adds warm tones to the facade if the sky is clear. A wide-angle lens between 16mm and 24mm handles the full building and landscape together well, while a longer focal length isolates weathered details. Parking is available directly off the road, and the site is accessible during summer months when the pass is open. (Furka Pass, Obergoms, Switzerland)
