Getting Emotional

Ruinenlust- with Angela Barnes

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Episode notes

Picture this: you're wandering around a crumbling castle, fascinated by the ruins, totally lost in the history of it all. Not only are you amazed by its beauty, you're also heavily reminded of the past, present and future. These ruins of a once-grand building inspire a feeling of obsession, pleasure, and wonder. It's ruinenlust.

This is a German word, and describes the feeling of pleasure you take when exploring old ruins. But 'ruins' don't have to be a castle- it could be a column, a church, a...cold war bunker. Because that's what I'm talking about with comedian, podcaster, and history lover Angela Barnes. Angela's love of cold war bunkers- now pretty much all abandoned- has inspired a full Radio 4 series, as well as providing a location for her hen-do! So I decided to ask her why these building in particular are so interesting- is it the building, or the history surrounding them? She gives some fascinating answers, as well as ruminating on her own ruinenlust.

Angela is on the wonderful We Are History podcast, if you want to hear her discover more historical gems, and you can find her on twitter @AngelaBarnes. I'm there too, @GetEmotionalPod. Come say hi!

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