The Well

Before a proper water-supply system was built, the people of Laško relied on deep wells such as this one in the municipal courtyard. Because the groundwater was connected to the Savinja River, it often carried contamination, and wells could become dangerous sources of epidemic disease. Local leaders were already considering a safe water supply during the Austro-Hungarian period, but the First World War interrupted the plans. Serious preparations began only in November 1924, and construction followed four years later with a seven-kilometre pipeline from Ogeče near Rimske Toplice.

For its time the project was extraordinarily expensive and placed the municipality under major financial pressure. Total costs exceeded 1.8 million dinars, while Laško's entire annual budget was only 160,000 dinars. The City of Ljubljana even had to provide substantial assistance. Despite the difficulties, the waterworks were ceremonially opened on 1 December 1928; Mayor Dr Roš received the key to the new reservoir, and on today's Valvasor Square firefighters sprayed water high into the air in celebration. The reservoir was deliberately built on the shaded slope below Tabor Castle so that the water, protected from the sun, would remain pleasantly cool.