Hydropolis Wrocław

Under a grassy mound on Na Grobli Street lies a 19th-century underground reservoir that stored Wrocław's drinking water for more than a hundred years. Today it houses Hydropolis, Poland's only science centre devoted entirely to water, where you can step inside a full-size replica of a bathyscaphe, stand next to a 3.5-metre water vortex and see how the city has secured clean water over the centuries.

History: from filter to museum

The reservoir was built in 1890–1892 at the "Na Grobli" waterworks as filter no. V — the only covered filter on the site, hidden beneath an earth embankment. In the early 20th century the city switched from river water from the Oder to groundwater, and the old filter was emptied of thousands of tonnes of sand and gravel. From 1905 it held 12 million litres of clean water and became Wrocław's main reservoir, known simply as "Reservoir No. 1".

The structure survived shelling in 1945 and flooding during the great flood of July 1997. It was listed as a historic monument in 2002 and kept storing water until the end of 2011. The municipal water company (MPWiK) spent four years converting it into an education centre, which opened on 5 December 2015.

What to see

The exhibition covers 4,600 m² and is divided into seven zones: The Depths, Ocean of Life, Relaxation Zone, Man and Water, History of Water Engineering, City and Water, and States of Water. The visit begins with the film "Planet of Water" on a 60-metre panoramic 360° screen. There is also a children's area and a programme of temporary exhibitions.

Highlights include:

• a 1:1 replica of the bathyscaphe Trieste, the first vessel to reach the bottom of the Mariana Trench,
• an installation with a shark and 1,500 life-size tuna,
• a 46.5-metre "water printer" and a 3.5-metre water vortex,
• an acrylic copy of Michelangelo's "David" at half scale,
• models of ancient inventions and an interactive diagram of the city's waterworks.

Interesting facts

The new use has not erased the monument. The interior consists of four rectangular chambers with reinforced-concrete barrel vaults, and the brick walls are up to 126 cm thick. Outside, the building is covered by a layer of clay and soil up to 160 cm deep, now a meadow — ramps and steps lead up onto the roof, and small chimneys poking out of the grass hint at its original purpose. Hydropolis has won awards including National Geographic Traveler's "Wonder of Poland 2016" and Poland's best tourism product of 2018.

Tripto tip

Hydropolis is open Monday to Friday 9:00–18:00 (last entry 17:00) and at weekends and on public holidays 9:00–19:00 (last entry 18:00). Entry is limited to 60 people every half hour, so at weekends it is best to book a timed ticket online. According to the centre's price list, a standard ticket costs PLN 45–47 and a reduced one PLN 36–38, depending on the day, and the last entry slot is sometimes cheaper. Allow about 2 hours.

On-site parking is reserved for coaches and disabled visitors, so public transport is easier: bus 920 to the Na Grobli stop or trams 3, 5 or 16 to Plac Wróblewskiego. The exhibition is fully wheelchair accessible and has a lift. On Sundays from 17:00 to 19:00 there are "quiet hours" — a good time for visitors sensitive to noise.