Waste Passageway at Špilberk

At the time when Špilberk was converted to a Baroque fortress, it was necessary to drain the remaining moats.
  • 18th century

The medieval moats that originally surrounded the Špilberk fortress were removed in 1742 in connection with the construction of the casemates. The moat on the south and north sides was modified and then bridged with two-storey massive brick arches. The eastern and western moats were thus connected only by a drainage channel running through the lowest floor of the southern casemates. It diverted water from the western ditch to the mouth of the waste gallery in the eastern ditch. It was called the "Rat Canal" and was the stuff of legends. One of them depicts the particularly brutal torture of prisoners who were lowered into the canal and left to the mercy of predatory rodents. Apparently, many rats did survive in these places, but that is where the legend ends. Neither this nor any other method of torture ever took place in Spilberga Prison.

At the time when Špilberk was being converted into a Baroque fortress, it was necessary to ensure the drainage of the remaining ditches. The original drainage gallery at that time probably consisted only of a short channel passing through the castle wall, with its outlet on the bare hillside of Špilberk Hill. After 1742, however, the waste channel was dug through the rock mass and led up to Pekařská Street. It is really a very interesting building. The solid rock mass had to be bricked up in some parts with bricks or stone. The dimensions of the adit are very variable, as is its gradient. Even the direction is not straight and the passages curve to the right and left.

The time of the stone gallery's creation in the middle of the 18th century is still only hypothetical. It is not yet possible to prove whether it was created much earlier and could have served as a secret or emergency route from the besieged castle. However, the hints of other passages and impassable branches only confirm the fact that Špilberk still hides a number of historical and hitherto unknown underground spaces.

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Phone: +420 542 427 150 | Email: info@ticbrno.cz

TIC BRNO is a public-benefit corporation and is financially supported by the statutory city of Brno.

VOUCHER

The voucher must be exchanged for a ticket in person at the underground ticket office at Jakubské náměstí 1 during its validity period. The voucher is valid for 6 months from the date of purchase.

We recommend making a reservation in advance by calling +420 515 919 793 or by e-mail: kostnice@ticbrno.cz. For vouchers with a discount (seniors, students under 25, children and ZPT), proof of entitlement to the discount must be provided at the Underground ticket office. The voucher for family admission is valid for 2 adults and 2 children under 15 years of age. The voucher is valid only once and for the Underground to which it is purchased. The voucher cannot be exchanged for cash or refunded.

 

Voucher to the ossuary of St. James

The voucher must be exchanged for a ticket in person at the underground ticket office at Jakubské náměstí 1 during its validity period. The voucher is valid for 6 months from the date of purchase.

We recommend making a reservation in advance by calling +420 515 919 793 or by e-mail: kostnice@ticbrno.cz. For vouchers with a discount (seniors, students under 25, children and ZPT), proof of entitlement to the discount must be provided at the Underground ticket office. The voucher for family admission is valid for 2 adults and 2 children under 15 years of age. The voucher is valid only once and for the Underground to which it is purchased. The voucher cannot be exchanged for cash or refunded.

Voucher to Labyrinth under the Green Market

The purchased voucher to the Labyrinth under the Green Market must be exchanged for a ticket in person at the Zelný trh 21 underground ticket office during its validity period.

The voucher is valid for 6 months from the date of purchase. We recommend making a reservation in advance by calling 542 212 892 or by e-mail: labyrint@ticbrno.cz. For vouchers with a discount (seniors, students under 26, children and ZPT), proof of entitlement to the discount must be provided at the underground ticket office. The family voucher is valid for 2 adults and 2 children under 15 years of age. The voucher is valid only once and for the Underground to which it is purchased. The voucher cannot be exchanged for cash or refunded.