An underground masterpiece
I will guide you to another interesting place today. I visited another underground place of Brno, also known as the mysterious underground cathedrals. In the 19th century, when the city of Brno began to develop rapidly, the first water tank was built under the surface of the Yellow Hill (Žlutý kopec). There are three water tanks there. Two were built of brick and one of monolithic concrete. The concrete one has two tanks. The water was purified in filtration systems, so the system provided an adequate source of drinking water, although the water was also used for industrial purposes. It operated from 1874 until 1997. The temperature in the tanks is around 14°C. (57.2°F)
The oldest water tank was built in 1874 based on the plans of the British Thomas Docwry. The floor is not flat, but its curves are the opposite of the vault. It is divided into eleven parallel sections connected by a corridor. Due to its regular construction, it gives the impression of an endlessly receding space. It was used to store more than 9.5 million liters (~2.50 million gallon) of water. The bricks used for this brick-built water tank are so-called red burnt bricks, which have undergone a heat treatment of more than 1000°C (1832°F), thus melting them into bricks. This ensures that they are sturdy and durable. The second water tank was built in 1894 as a result of increased water use. It can store about 8.5 million liters (~2.25 million gallon) of water. The floor here is flat, covered by pillars with a semi-circular arched vault system. It gives the impression of a breathtaking and mystical cathedral.
The third water tank was already built of concrete in 1917. It consists of two tanks connected by a large chamber. Their volume is 15 million liters (~3.96 million gallon) each. It is made of monolithic concrete and is supported by concrete columns. The tanks are also used for various cultural events due to their special atmosphere and acoustics. Great concerts, performances and visual shows can be enjoyed here. It is also worth coming if you just want to see the complex. You can take part in a guided tour or use an audio guide, which is available in Czech, English, German and Polish from a mobile application. It is definitely worth taking part in this captivating mystical walk in this special environment.
“I believe that life is chaotic, a jumble of accidents, ambitions, misconceptions, bold intentions, lazy happenstances, and unintended consequences, yet I also believe that there are connections that illuminate our world, revealing its endless mystery and wonder.”
– David Maraniss