Mělnické Podzemí

Mělnické Podzemí A Středověká Studna


Useful Information

Location: Mělník city center.
(50.352311, 14.473954)
Open: All year daily 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17.
Closed 01-JAN, 24-DEC, 25-DEC, 26-DEC.
[2020]
Fee: Adults CZK 60, Children (6-) CZK 35, Children (3-6) CZK 10, Children (0-2) not allowed, Students CZK 35, Seniors CZK 35, Family (2+2) CZK 140.
[2020]
Classification: SubterraneaCellar
Light: LightIncandescent
Dimension:  
Guided tours:  
Photography:  
Accessibility:  
Bibliography:  
Address: Tourist information center, Legionářů 51, 276 01 Mělník, Tel: +420-602-679-552. E-mail:
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then.
Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

13th-14th century construction of the cellars.
2008 opened to the public.

Description

The Mělnické Podzemí (Cellars of Mělník) are a network of underground passages and rooms located under the city center of Mělník. The cellar system has multiple levels and an underground Medieval well. The cellars were constructed during the 13th and 14th century. The underground of Mělník hill consists of sandstone and marl, both are rather soft. As a result the construction of cellars was rather easy and they actually cover the entire historic core of the town.

The cellars were originally built for the storage of food and goods. But in case of fire or war the underground tunnels served as a shelter for the population, or the citizens hid their valuables here. In uncertain times the people equipped their cellars as underground emergency shelter with supplies of durable food for several days. The tunnels had an important fallback, they provided an escape route leading behind the walls, outside the city area.

The drinking water was provided by a Medieval well which is located below the square. In the middle ages this well was for a long time the only source of water in the city. That's the reason why it is so huge, the diameter of 4.54 m is quite exceptional. When it was used for water supply it was open to the surface and there was a wooden winch with a wooden bucket. Today there is a vault and two meters of rock, on the surface is a circular pavement of different colour. The tunnels reach the well at a depth of 8 m, and the water level is 37.5 m deeper. The water in the well is 7.2 m deep. In total the well is 54 m deep.