The first visitors visited the unused water towers in Brno.

Brno – The first dozens of visitors were welcomed today by the unused Brno water tanks at Žlutý kopec. The underground reservoirs from the second half of the 19th century were taken over by the Tourist Information Center of the City of Brno (TIC), which installed temporary lighting underground and plans to hold tours on additional dates. After today, the next tours will be on July 30 and in August. According to the guide and expert on Brno's underground Aleš Svoboda, people were so fascinated by the reservoirs that they did not ask too many questions, he told ČTK after the first tour.

The accessibility of this unique space was made possible by the construction of a new entrance last autumn; until then, access was only possible through a hatch and by ladder. The reservoirs are a unique space that emerged after 1870 when the city could no longer rely solely on water from the Svratka River. The walls are made of bricks, and many refer to it as an "underground cathedral." The structure was built without the use of steel, wood, or reinforced concrete, necessitating various types of arches. The reservoirs ceased to serve their purpose in 1997.

"The response from visitors is very positive. The interest is genuine, so we will strive to repeat this event as much as possible, to attract as many visitors as we can," said Svoboda.

Due to safety regulations, a maximum of 15 people can be in one group, and only those over 18 years old can participate in the tour. According to Svoboda, TIC has big plans, and this is just the first phase of making the space accessible. "We have many more gradual steps ahead to make the spaces more attractive. I spoke with visitors about the possibility of taking them on boats in the oldest reservoir. It will be very similar to the tanks in Istanbul, where we can take inspiration from how to walk through the illuminated space above the water level. I hope that people will continue to enjoy this," said Svoboda.

Brno was at risk of losing this technical monument, as the city leadership previously planned to build underground garages for the Masaryk Oncology Institute at the site. However, due to the interest of film crews, this plan has been re-evaluated.