Štola XXII Vojířova

Beneath the verdant slopes of Petřín Hill lies a hidden world. This is the Štola XXII Vojířova, a silent testament to Prague’s rich history. Štola XXII Vojířova isn’t just a tunnel. It’s a time capsule. The Štola XXII Vojířova began its life in 1989 as a test section of a drainage gallery. It was intended to reach Pohořelec but remains dry. The tunnel was briefly open to the public in 2005. It housed the exhibition “Underground Prague,” showcasing the city’s subterranean secrets. Štola XXII Vojířova stretches 94 meters into the earth. Its entrance is marked by perpendicular arms and metal doors. The tunnel itself is roughly 350 cm wide and 280 cm high. A semicircular profile, reinforced with visible steel under a concrete coating, characterizes its construction. The passage varies in width, offering a light profile between 4.7 and 9 square meters. From its southern-facing entrance, Štola XXII Vojířova gradually shifts westward. It ends abruptly in a concrete-sealed chamber. Roughly halfway through, a noticeable branch veers off. This branch also ends in a sealed chamber. The tunnel floor is concrete. It features a narrow drainage channel and two sedimentation basins. Metal plates cover sections of the channel. Štola XXII Vojířova meets the legal definition of an underground structure. This is according to Act No. 61/1988 Coll. It qualifies as a drainage and water supply tunnel with a clear cross-section exceeding 2 square meters and a length over 50 meters. Before entering Štola XXII Vojířova, pause. Observe the plaque dedicated to Vladimír Vojíř (1946–2016), the Czech speleologist for whom the tunnel is named. It reads: “VOJÍŘOVA ŠTOLA IN MEMORY OF THE SIGNIFICANT PRAGUE SPELEOLOGIST VLADIMÍR VOJÍŘ 26.2.1946 – 28.2.2016.” Though currently closed, Štola XXII Vojířova remains a fascinating piece of Prague’s hidden history. It whispers tales of mining, water management, and the dedicated individuals who explored its depths.