How about a secret military camp turned nature haven? That’s the story of the Virginia Depot. This place was once a bustling hub of military activity. Now, it is a peaceful biotope. It is located west of Schleißheimer Straße in Munich’s Lerchenau district.
Let’s rewind to the years 1936 to 1940. Seven warehouse bunkers were constructed here. These bunkers contained about 133000 m³ of enclosed space. They belonged to the Army Catering Main Office in Munich.
Then came 1945. The United States Army took over the area. They established the Virginia Area Storage Facility. It was named after the US state of Virginia.
Fast forward to 1957. The US facility closed. However, the name Virginia Depot stuck. The Bundeswehr then used the site. The Military District Clothing Office VI and the Munich branch of the Military District Catering Office VI were located here. Heavy equipment from nearby barracks was loaded onto trains at the powder tower. This was done via the Bundeswehr tank loading station.
The Bundeswehr left the Virginia Depot around the mid-1990s. The buildings were torn down around 2011. Today, only the loading ramp of the former railway connection to Munich North Ring remains.
The Virginia Depot’s story does not end there. After decades of restricted access, nature reclaimed the land. It became a unique habitat for plants and animals. The urban biotope spans approximately 20 hectares. It is home to 350 different plant species. Around 70 of these are on the Red List of endangered species. You can find wildflowers like kingcups and rock carnations growing here.
Many butterfly and bird species also live here. Some of these are endangered. You might even spot a sand lizard or a field grasshopper.
The LBV, a conservation organization, has cared for the biotope since 2003. They oversaw the environmentally friendly removal of the remaining structures. In 2014, the city council decided to designate the biotope as a protected landscape area. This was after creating compensatory areas.
The former Virginia Depot is part of Munich’s green belt. It is located near the Pulverturm bus stop on bus line 178. In the northeastern corner is the Munich-Mitte local group of the Technische Hilfswerk. To the east is the former Kronprinz-Rupprecht-Kaserne. A bridge across Schleißheimer Straße connects it to the Virginia Depot.
So, as you stand here, remember the Virginia Depot’s transformation. It evolved from a military storage facility to a thriving natural space. It’s a testament to nature’s resilience. It also shows how urban areas can provide habitats for diverse species. This place once echoed with military commands. Now, it resonates with the sounds of nature.