Discover the Fascinating Hidden History of Pilsen: Now Open for Exploration

A guide will lead you through the Pilsen Historical Underground, which is a complex maze of tunnels, cellars, and wells that was constructed under the city of Pilsen from the 13th century to the 18th century. As you explore, you’ll find out about what life was like below the city, discover real historical treasures, and see the hidden areas of this underground world. You’ll learn how this underground system came to be and see the various ways it was used over time.

Thanks to the exhibits and artifacts on display, you will get a better understanding of the city’s history and what everyday life was like for the city’s medieval residents. The underground tour stretches approximately 800 meters and takes you 5 to 7 meters deep below the historic center of Pilsen. Tours are offered daily at 11:00, 13:40, and 15:40 , and you can buy tickets online for CZK 250.

At the end of the tour, adult visitors are given a beer token that can be exchanged for a Pilsner Urquell beer (0.3 l) at select restaurants in Pilsen. The Brewery Museum features its own beer shop that has nearly 150 types of beer from over 25 different Czech microbreweries. You’ll find everything from lagers to ales, IPAs, stouts, sour beers, and beers that have been aged in various spirit barrels.

Iceboxes, cisterns, and wells in the Pilsen underground

You can enter the historical underground of Pilsen through the original brewery house from the 15th century, which now hosts the unique Brewery Museum. The place known as the ice house was specifically used for storing ice. It was located on the upper level of the cellars, allowing water from melting ice to flow down into the lower rooms of the brewhouse and lager cellars, keeping them cool. The underground areas were utilized for making beer, storing food, and even served as a defense system during troublesome times. The digging of these tunnels occurred progressively from the late 13th to the 18th century, resulting in interconnected cellars that sometimes reach three floors deep. The tour lasts for about an hour and features 20 wells and cisterns that served as essential water sources, along with a remarkable water tower from the 16th century – a rare technical structure and the best-preserved example of its kind in Bohemia. At the conclusion of the tour, there’s a delightful surprise for adult visitors in the form of a “beer token“, which offers them 0.3 l of Pilsner Urquell beer at chosen restaurants in Pilsen.

The historical underground of Pilsen stretches for 13 km, making it one of the largest underground networks in the country. It was opened to the public more than 35 years ago following careful archaeological studies and extensive restoration efforts that showcased its long and rich history that dates back to the city’s founding. The underground maintains a consistent temperature of around +10 °C year-round. Please note that this tour is not accessible for wheelchair users.