"The Underground System of Zeitz"
History
The Underground System is one of the tourist attractions of the over 1000
year old former Bishop and Duke town of Zeitz. You can find these passages and vaults in the centre of the upper part of town and also on the hillsides of the oldest part of
Zeitz in Bruehl and around the Nicolai square. On commencing this tour the visitor will see the first of many round-vaulted ceilings in many different proportions: wide and high (from 3 m in height) and from 4 to 30 m in length.
These arches lead into the hallways of the system, which are sometimes on the same level as the entrance but more often involve staircases bringing the visitor to the second level of the Underground System of Zeitz.
To ensure the stability of the houses under which the tunnels have been hollowed out, thepassages are usually not more than 1 m wide
and 2 m high. hallways constructed of new red sandstone are not laid out in any set fasion and can be found in three separate levels running over the top of eachother. Because of these multiple stories, the tunnels are often 5 -8 m
under street level and sometimes deeper. The hallways were constructed over decades by the light of oil lanterns with the workers using mallets, chisels and pickaxes. The walls are a reddy-brown or green or grey and you can
occasionally see some grey-blue or white grains. 
The tunnels also contain some lime which has resulted in the formations of
stalagmites and stalactites. Individual hallways have been cut differently into the stone: gently sloping, rounded and pointed and even with flat ceilings. Usually the walls are even but there are instances where they have been
coarsely cut. To provide more safety, the walls are shored up with stones or bricks. Quite spectacular are the curved crossroads, gateways and staircases that have been constructed from bricks. These vaults can be rounded, even,
pointed, basket-like, parapolic or trapezoidal. During the Second World War, the once isolated passages were turned into airraid shelters with the addition of connecting passages, electric lights, locking doors made from wood
or steel and sometimes seating. Before the wars these tunnels were also used as hiding places. The main reason for the construction of these hal1was food storage and the individual wealth of the
medieval people rather than shelter or secrecy. At this time one of our staple foods not known: the potato. The Spanish introduced the potato into Europe from South America 
in the middle of the 16th century but some time passed before it arrived in the Zeitz area. 1717the potato was introduced for cultivation in Saxony (to
which Zeitz belong until 1815) and in 1738 in Prussia. Unlike nowadays, beer in the Middle Ages had an irreplaceable function. It was used as a basis for soups and a part of all everyone`s diets. The brewing of the
beer was first conducted between the first of October and the middle of April. Special breweries were used to make the young beer which was then transported to certain homes that had attained permission to brew
beer. The beer was stored in the vaults where it was save from dryness and wind and where the temperature was consistently between 11 an 13 degrees. In some side ways long rectangular blocks have been
found on which the beer barrels would rest until the beer was ready to use. (Other food and wines would de stored in the vaults to be safe against going off).
The council would only allow the citizens to brew beer when the taxes indicated on the "Brauzettel" had been payed in
full. As there was so much money coming in from this tax it formed the basis for the council treasury. In the 15th and 16th centuries brewing was particularly common. For example, in 1558 a total of 330 different beers were
produced but the exact quantity is not known. If we look at the beer produced in Gera in 1558, we could extrapolate a figure for Zeitz of 1292280 litres. With an estimated population of 1800 
people there would have been 718 litres of beer to be consumed by each
individual. This phenomenual figure is explained by the fact that people from the villages had to buy their beer in Zeitz. Between the 17th an 18th centuries the production of beer decreased because beer was
purchased from other towns. In 1885 the bewery Oettler was founded and with this the modern methods of brewing for sale began. Most of the walls and hallways of the Underground System were built in the
15th and 16th centuries. In other towns in East Thuringia, and West Saxony there are cellars deep under the earth which are comparable in age, construction and purpose with our town. However, the underground
system is unique and unforgettable for the visitor because of the extent, size, upkeep and esthetical and emotional effect. The formation of records, continued
upkeep, exploration and publicity, is the task of the people who share a common interest in the Underground System.
They formed the group “Unterirdisches Zeitz e.V.” whitch was created on the 21st of Februar 1990. On the 7th of March 1991 the
registered organisation was awarded “charity status”. A main aim of the group was to open a part of the system for Visitors. Rudolf Drößler 
This route commenced at Braustrasse 6 underneath Fischstrasse to the
house at Brüiderstrasse 4 (the SwandPharmacy). The entrance is easily reached as it is in the centre of Zeitz opposite the townhall. On the 6th of May 1990, the committee passed some plans that had been previously suggested for
saving, building on and clearing the Underground System.The plans of course involved considerable expense and the money was gathered from Zeitz, the government of Saxony-Anhalt, the
federal government and the Loto Corporation. We must not forget the volunteer workers who devoted much time in order that the first part of the route could be
opened in time for the 1025th birthday celebration of Zeitz on the 19th of June 1992. The remainder of the route was opened in May 1993. On June 6, 1999 the
temporarily final stretch was opened for the public. Now the exit of the system leads to 21, Altmarkt a historic building that serves as the domicile of the
"Unterirdisches Zeitz" association. Don't miss this impressive walk through the “subterranean Zeitz”,the path system beneath the historic part of town.