Historical Subterranean Pilsen

The system of linked cellars (two or three storeys deep) located under the whole Pilsen city centre grew gradually between the 13th and 19th century.

With its 17 km (10,5 miles) of corridors, this complex labyrinth ranks among the largest in Central Europe. The two or three storey deep cellars were mainly used for storage of food or as manufacturing workshops, still-houses and malt houses but they also served as wells or tunnels for municipal sewerage and water drainage or for bringing water to the water supply machinery.

Forced by the critical shortage of water in the 16th century, the city’s administrators decided to build a water conduit which had a great impact on the water supply regime of the city. A water tower was constructed with a water machine inside which (by means of a system of pumps) pushed water to a lead tank and further, through wooden pipes, to the fountains in the square.

Sightseeing tours

The sightseeing route starts in Veleslavínova Street and it is about 750 m (2,460 feet) long, running about 9 – 12 m (30 - 40 feet) deep. Apart from the exhibition of archaeological findings (glass, pottery, stone and wooden objects) retrieved from the wells, the Pilsen subterranean network also houses a replica of the original water wheel in the water–supply technology section of the exhibit.

Address: Veleslavínova 6
www.plzenskepodzemi.cz