200-Year-Old Hidden Tunnels Discovered in Slovak Town: Photos

A centuries-old network of crumbling tunnels ran beneath a picturesque Slovakian town. The once life-saving passages fell into disrepair and were eventually forgotten—until now.

Archaeologists have excavated several streets in the center of Trenčín as part of a project to revitalize the pedestrian zone, city officials said in a June 28 press release. One of the streets, known as Sládkovičova Street, stood out from the rest.

In the Middle Ages, Trenčín had a fortification system with walls, defensive towers and a castle, Drahoslav Hulínek, the project’s chief archaeologist, said in a press release. The walls were built in the 15th century and divided the city into two parts: a closed center and an exposed suburb.

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Officials reported that Sládkovičova Street ran through the wall and connected its two sides.

During excavations on this street, archaeologists discovered a network of hidden passages built between the 13th and 18th centuries.

The more than 200-year-old tunnels were made of stones or bricks and were used for escapes, Hulínek said. During medieval uprisings, priests, church officials or others would take refuge in the underground passages for safety. For this reason, tunnel networks often connected churches or other buildings.

The photos show crumbling tunnels. Some of the underground spaces found in Trenčín may date back to before the Middle Ages, Hulínek said.

Archaeologists also found 500-year-old fragments of city walls, glass and ceramic artifacts, a metal cannonball, and various bone artifacts. Several of these items are visible in the photo.

Excavations are still ongoing and archaeologists hope to discover a defensive front gate that once stood along the medieval walls.

Trenčín is a city located in northwestern Slovakia, near the border with the Czech Republic.

Google Translate was used to translate the press release of the City of Trenčín.