Historic tunnel ventilation shaft

A turret covering a ventilation shaft. The curious graffiti-covered concrete and rusted iron structure dates to 1906. The tunnel dates back to Emperor Rudolf II's time in Prague. Emperor Rudolf II never did anything by half measures. When he wanted to maintain artificial fish ponds in Prague’s Stomovka park, he had a kilometer-long tunnel built from the Vltava river, under Letná and into the landscaped wooded area. At the time it was private imperial property used as a game preserve. This was no small feat. Much of what is known as Rudolfova štola, or Rudolfine Tunnel, had to be built through solid rock centuries before the invention of dynamite. Construction took place 1584–93, stopping sporadically when money ran out.