49 Abandoned Landmarks That Are More Beautiful Than Ever

40. Val Jalbert, Quebec, Canada: A Roaring Twenties Mill Town Preserved

Step back into the 1920s at the remarkably preserved company town of Val Jalbert in Quebec. Once a bustling pulp mill village, it was abandoned in 1927 when the mill closed. Unlike many ghost towns left to decay, Val Jalbert has been meticulously maintained as a historical village and tourist attraction. Visitors can explore original workers' homes, the general store, the school, and the impressive Ouiatchouan Falls that powered the mill. It offers an authentic, immersive glimpse into early 20th-century industrial life, "abandoned" from its original purpose yet vibrantly telling its story.