Fake History Hunter

Most people know that the Romans used aqueducts and such to transport water into their cities and towns.
But what is relatively unknown is that this didn’t abruptly stop when the Roman Empire slowly withdrew, people continued to find ways to get water brought to where they lived and worked though conduits, canals, pipes but even newly build aqueducts during the middle ages.

Because not a lot of people know about this I’ve decided to compile a list of all the towns, places, villages, etc. in Medieval Europe I could find that got water though another way than just local wells.

If I’ve missed one, let me know.

Town/city/village	Description	Sources
A
Adelebsen, Germany	Woorden underground water pipes 13th century	Binnenstruktur und öffentliche räume in der mittelalterlichen stadtwüstung Nienover (PDF link)
L’Alcúdia de Crespins	Underground water supply system, 14th century, but other systems existed since Roman times.	https://www.researchgate.net/publication/317279230_A_study_of_an_Underground_Medieval_Water_Distribution_Network_and_other_structures_in_a_Spanish_town
Aubazines, France.	Built by monks in the 12th century to provide their monastery with clean water but also for gardens, meadows, mills and workshops. Also reached the village nearby..	https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canal_des_moines
Augsburg, Germany.	Augsburgs historische Wasserwirtschaft, Water towers, pump systems, fountains, canals, water cooled buildings, etc. Started in Roman era, continued to this day.	https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Augsburgs_historische_Wasserwirtschaft
Ayent, Switzerland	1440s Wooden aqueducts/gutters bring (to this day) water to villages but was also used for irrigation.	https://www.letemps.ch/suisse/valais/une-balade-long-bisse-dayent-voleurs-deau
B
Barcelona, Spain	Rec Comtal, origin perhaps Roman, also irrigation channel, in 10th century construction began to bring water into the city, supplied water till mid 20th century. Roman aqueducts still used & repaired.	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rec_Comtal The continuity of Roman water supply systems in post-Roman Spain: the case of Valentia, a reliable example?, by Javier Martínez Jiménez
Bath, England	1263 and 1280 supplies constructed serving the town and Benedictine priory. Spring water brought to houses by lead pipes.	Piped water supplies managed by civic bodies in medieval English towns
Bautzen, Germany	Water is lifted into a tower with pumps & a water wheel, then fed to city wells. Building started in 1496.	https://www.mittelalter-lexikon.de/wiki/Wasserleitungen
Bergamo, Italy	Aqueducts, cisterns, fountains since ancient times, improved & added to since at least 11th century, used up to 19th century.	http://www.cbbg.it/cbbgadmin/uploads/file/pubblicazioni/fountains_of_bergamo.pdf (PDF link) Water Technology in the Middle Ages. Cities, Monasteries, and Waterworks after the Roman Empire By Roberta J. Magnusson, 2002
Bern, Switzerland	Drinking water fountains fed with water through pipes, since 1393.	https://www.mittelalter-lexikon.de/wiki/Wasserleitungen
Bologna, Italy	Network of artificial canals, conduits, also used for transport & industry.	https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canali_di_Bologna
Boston, England	1327 licence for Dominican friary to construct conduit from Bolingbroke (12.5 miles away) for own use and for others in the town. Not known if this was completed	Piped water supplies managed by civic bodies in medieval English towns
Braunschweig, Germany	Fountains and wells providing water to the city via wooden pipeline since the 14th century	https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:WikiProjekt_Braunschweig/Wasserversorgung_der_Stadt_Braunschweig
Bremen, Germany	Windmills pumped water that was then transported to houses in the city.	https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-322-80213-2_7
Breslau, Germany	Drinking water fountains fed with water through pipes, since 1272.	https://www.mittelalter-lexikon.de/wiki/Wasserleitungen
Bridgwater, England	Conduit, late 1420s	Piped water supplies managed by civic bodies in medieval English towns
Bristol, England	c. 1190 St Mary Redcliffe Church granted pipe of water by Robert Berkeley. 1381 St Thomas’ church conduit first recorded. Shared systems with Augustinian, Franciscan, Carmelite and Dominican friaries	Piped water supplies managed by civic bodies in medieval English towns
Bruges/Brugge, Belgium.	Underground pipes, 13th century	https://www.researchgate.net/publication/263595319_Potable_water_for_a_city_A_historic_perspective_from_Bruges_Belgium
Budapest, Hungary.	Spa since 13th century, Buda castle had pumped waterworks in the early 1400s, conduits were added in the same century	https://www.fcsm.hu/en/company-information/the-history-of-the-sewage-of-budapest/the-beginnings
Burton-on-Trent, England	Mid-thirteenth century: possible reference to a maker or supervisor of conduit. By 1431 probably a conduit in the marketplace	Piped water supplies managed by civic bodies in medieval English towns
C
Canterbury, England	c. 1160 plan of Christ Church Cathedral Priory system shows cistern outside main precinct, which would have been accessible to public	Piped water supplies managed by civic bodies in medieval English towns Water Technology in the Middle Ages. Cities, Monasteries, and Waterworks after the Roman Empire By Roberta J. Magnusson, 2002
Manresa, Spain	In 1339, the city council decided to construct an aqueduct to bring water from the Llobregat River. The construction of the aqueduct was completed in 1344.	https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/5/4/1996
Chelmsford, England.	By mid-fourteenth century, water carried in underground elm pipes to marketplace. Probably built by the Dominican friary.	Piped water supplies managed by civic bodies in medieval English towns
Córdoba, Spain	Alcázar conduit, built during Visigoth rule, but possibly only used for a palace, not public. Earlier Roman pipes, aqueducts, cisterns, etc. remained in use.	https://www.academia.edu/1984292/_2012_Reuse_Repair_and_Reconstruction_Functioning_aqueducts_in_post_Roman_Spain
Coventry, England.	1332 Edward III gave permission for a conduit. By 1483 there were four conduits	Private Need, Public Order: Urban Sanitation in Late Medieval England and Scandinavia, by Dolores Marie Jorgensen Piped water supplies managed by civic bodies in medieval English towns
D
Damme, Belgium	13th century Because regional water is too salty, underground lead pipes are installed from the Male pond to the city of Damme.	https://inventaris.onroerenderfgoed.be/themas/9383
Dartmouth, England	1339–40 conduit referred to in property grant	Piped water supplies managed by civic bodies in medieval English towns
Dresden, Germany	15th century wooden pipes transporting water from springs into the city but also covered water canals from 1200 onwards.	http://Wasserbau im mittelalterlichen und frühneuzeitlichen Dresden (PDF link)
Dublin, Ireland	John le Decer’s Fountain 1308, cistern & conduit. Water system since 1244.	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Le_Decer Water Technology in the Middle Ages. Cities, Monasteries, and Waterworks after the Roman Empire By Roberta J. Magnusson, 2002
Dunster, England	1390s conduit in New or Middle Street	Piped water supplies managed by civic bodies in medieval English towns
Durham, England	1450 construction of watercourse and pipe from spring to marketplace	Piped water supplies managed by civic bodies in medieval English towns
E
Elbląg, Poland	1275 water drawn from Kumiela river channel for the town by using pipes.	https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12685-021-00295-3#Sec3
Exeter, England	Cathedral system of twelfth century, with public cistern, rerouted 1346–49. 1420– 24 city constructed own system, extended in 1429/30, and in 1441 to serve Dominican friary. City also built in 1490s a new shared conduit with the Dominican friary from new springs and extensive underground passageways for its existing conduit	https://the-past.com/feature/underground-exeter-water-for-the-city/ Piped water supplies managed by civic bodies in medieval English towns
F
Feres, Greece	Ottoman period aqueduct works.	https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/5/4/1996
Freiburg, Germany	Freiburg Bächle, tunnels providing water from the Dreisam river. First documented in the 13th century but still in use today although no longer for drinking water, I hope. If you step in one by accident you’ll marry a local.	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freiburg_B%C3%A4chle
G
Gdańsk, Poland	Water transported into town through wooden pipes in the 14th century.	https://archeologia.pl/en/health-and-hygiene-in-old-gdansk/water-supply-in-medieval-and-post-medieval-gdansk/
Genoa, Italy	Aqueduct since 11th century	https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acquedotto_storico_di_Genova
Gloucester, England	1438 Franciscan friary shared their supply with town. By 1446 public conduit	Piped water supplies managed by civic bodies in medieval English towns
Goslar, Germany	Waterpipes being used.	https://www.mittelalter-lexikon.de/wiki/Wasserleitungen
Granada, Spain.	Waterworks with canals, channels, fountains, etc built during Moorish rule.	https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20220428-the-spanish-city-where-water-defies-gravity
Grudziądz, Poland	Starting in the 14th century: canals, municipal waterworks, water elevating mechanism, water towers, wooden water pipes	https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12685-021-00295-3#Sec3
Gubbio, Italy	Aqueduct, water barrier since at least 14th century	https://artbonus.gov.it/738-acquedotto-medievale-di-gubbio-loc.-bottaccione.html https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/5/4/1996
H
Hanover, Germany	Waterpipes being used.	https://www.mittelalter-lexikon.de/wiki/Wasserleitungen
I
Innsbruck, Germany	Waterpipes being used.	https://www.mittelalter-lexikon.de/wiki/Wasserleitungen
Ipswich	By 1395 common conduit	Piped water supplies managed by civic bodies in medieval English towns
J
K
Kavala, Greece	Ottoman period aqueduct works.	https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/5/4/1996
Kerkrade, Netherlands	Medieval Clay waterpipes, possibly just drains. Found in 1960s.	https://www.delpher.nl/nl/kranten/view?coll=ddd&identifier=ddd:010525860:mpeg21:a0125
Kingston-upon-Hull	1293 fresh-water dike, 1402 new dike constructed. In 1447 obtained a royal license to convey spring water to town by subterranean lead pipes.	Piped water supplies managed by civic bodies in medieval English towns Water Technology in the Middle Ages. Cities, Monasteries, and Waterworks after the Roman Empire By Roberta J. Magnusson, 2002
(King’s) Lynn, England	1428 With kettlemill (horse-driven wheel with buckets) to raise water.	Piped water supplies managed by civic bodies in medieval English towns
Koper, Slovenia	Plumbing system with wooden pipes	https://www.researchgate.net/publication/344099835_A_Review_of_Waterlogged_Wood_Treatments_in_Slovenia_and_a_New_Approach_to_the_Treatment_of_a_Large_Roman_Logboat_from_the_Ljubljanica_River/figures?lo=1
Kos, Greece	Ottoman period aqueduct works.	https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/5/4/1996
Kraków, Poland	Watertower pumping up water since 15th century. Water filtered through sand & then flowed into city through hollow wooden pipe logs. (different) logs were used for sewage.	https://upadektechnikikrakowa.blogspot.com/2018/04/wodociagi-krakowa-cz1.html
Kutná Hora Czech Republic	Pipeline from St. Adalbert spring with aqueduct, build by bourgeois Prokop from Písek in 1st half of 15th century. The aqueduct was destroyed by a flood in 1786 and rebuilt. Today’s appearance of the fountain dates from 1490s.	https://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WMG08G_Medieval_Aqueduct_Bylany_Kutna_Hora_Czech_Republic
L
Leipzig, Germany	Waterpipes being used.	https://www.mittelalter-lexikon.de/wiki/Wasserleitungen
Lichfield, England.	By 1270s town aqueduct possibly connected to cathedral close’s system; Franciscan friary system with public conduit. Pipes to town & private homes installed later.	https://www.lichfieldconduitlands.org.uk/history-of-the-trust/ Piped water supplies managed by civic bodies in medieval English towns
Liège, Belgium	L’areine Richefontaine 1244. Canal originally for mines drainage, used to provide water to city.	https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Areine
Lincoln, England	Friary obtained permission in 1260 to take water from springs with a conduit to the east of the city. It was acquired by the city and dismantled in 1539.	https://arcade.lincoln.gov.uk/report/142effa1-a064-4b77-bb77-d291187396d0
Lisbon, Portugal.	Waterworks and drainage since at least Roman times but still in use and also expanded and new ones added in the 14th century, possibly earlier.	https://www.academia.edu/36257060/Sistemas_de_circula%C3%A7%C3%A3o_de_%C3%A1gua_e_poder_na_Lisboa_Medieval_s%C3%A9culos_XIV_a_XVI_in_Cadernos_do_Arquivo_Municipal_2a_s%C3%A9rie_no_8_Julho_Dezembro_2017_pp_37_54
London, England.	1237 citizens acquire springs at Tyburn and build GreatConduit, Cheapside, during 1230s or 1240s; ‘Standard’ conduit in Cheapside by 1395; new springs added, piping renewed 1439–55; Great Conduit rebuilt 1479; Gracechurch Street conduit 1491	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Conduit Piped water supplies managed by civic bodies in medieval English towns
Lübeck, Germany	“Wasserkunst” or “water-artwork” since the 13th century. Started as providing water for brewers but was later also used for private homes.	https://t.co/oDqGe3hGDU (PDF link)
M
Madrid, Spain.	Underground tunnels for water created by Ummayads in the 8th & 9th centuries and later developed by Cristians after they took the city in 1085.	https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viajes_de_agua_en_el_Madrid_hist%C3%B3rico
Meran, Italy	Waterpipes being used.	https://www.mittelalter-lexikon.de/wiki/Wasserleitungen
Munich, Germany	Waterpipes being used.	https://www.mittelalter-lexikon.de/wiki/Wasserleitungen
Myrrha (Smyrna)	Ottoman period aqueduct works.	https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/5/4/1996
N
Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England.	By 1341 shared with Franciscan friary. By 1539–45 there were five heads of conduits for the town	https://twsitelines.info/SMR/1430 Piped water supplies managed by civic bodies in medieval English towns
Newport, England	1309 burgesses granted licence to dig and place lead pipes from spring	Piped water supplies managed by civic bodies in medieval English towns
Northampton, England	Fourteenth-century conduit; replaced 1483 and improved 1543	Piped water supplies managed by civic bodies in medieval English towns
Norwich, England	Water pipes, wells, streams, covered sewers. Possibly since 10th century.	https://www.researchgate.net/publication/271947152_Piped_water_supplies_managed_by_civic_bodies_in_medieval_English_towns
Nuremberg, Germany	Drinking water fountains fed with water through pipes, since 1396.	https://www.mittelalter-lexikon.de/wiki/Wasserleitungen
O
Orvieto, Italy	Complex public works, connected to aqueduct, 13th century. Several public fountains.	http://guide.umbriaonline.com/news/cosa-vedere/acquedotto-medievale.html Water Technology in the Middle Ages. Cities, Monasteries, and Waterworks after the Roman Empire By Roberta J. Magnusson, 2002
P
Paderborn, Germany	Water brought in through wooden pipes to public fountains since at least the 1400s.	https://www.paderborn.de/tourismus-kultur/sehenswuerdigkeiten/Kuempe_Sehensw.php#:~:text=%22K%C3%BCmpe%22-,%22K%C3%BCmpe%22,Kamp%20und%20vor%20der%20Franziskanerkirche
Paris, France	Public water supply since the late twelfth century.	Water Technology in the Middle Ages. Cities, Monasteries, and Waterworks after the Roman Empire By Roberta J. Magnusson, 2002
Perugia, Italy	13th century aqueduct that brought water to fountains.	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fontana_Maggiore https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/5/4/1996 Water Technology in the Middle Ages. Cities, Monasteries, and Waterworks after the Roman Empire By Roberta J. Magnusson, 2002
Plymouth, England	Wooden conduits from late fifteenth century	Piped water supplies managed by civic bodies in medieval English towns
Poole, England	By 1497 supply of water to town from outside borough in existence.	Piped water supplies managed by civic bodies in medieval English towns
Prague, Czech Republic.	Watermills supplied public fountains with water from the Vltava. Water towers, wooden, stone & lead aqueducts	https://cs.wikipedia.org/wiki/Novoml%C3%BDnsk%C3%A1_vod%C3%A1rensk%C3%A1_v%C4%9B%C5%BE
Pylos, Greece	Ottoman period aqueduct works.	https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/5/4/1996
Q
R
Ravensburg, Germany	Municipal pipe system, feeding over 100 fountains & public connections	https://journals.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/index.php/swbhbf/article/view/25805
Reccopolis, Spain.	Visigoth 6th century city with stone aquaduct, cistern, fountain.	https://www.academia.edu/1984292/_2012_Reuse_Repair_and_Reconstruction_Functioning_aqueducts_in_post_Roman_Spain
Rome, Italy	Roman aqueducts in use & maintained till at least the 9th century. New ones built as well.	Water Technology in the Middle Ages. Cities, Monasteries, and Waterworks after the Roman Empire By Roberta J. Magnusson, 2002.
Regensburg, Germany	Waterpipes being used.	https://www.mittelalter-lexikon.de/wiki/Wasserleitungen
Rostock, Germany	Waterpipes being used.	https://www.mittelalter-lexikon.de/wiki/Wasserleitungen
S
Salerno, Italy	Aqueduct built by the Lombards in ca. 7th century AD. Later restored by the Normans in ca. 9th century AD to supply water to the monastery of Saint Benedict.	https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/5/4/1996
Salisbury	Early thirteenth century: water supplied through shallow channels running down the centre of most streets for household and industrial use	Piped water supplies managed by civic bodies in medieval English towns
Salzburg, Austria.	Almkanal, subterranean canal system since perhaps 8th century, pipes & tunnels with water to town added in 12th century and later.	https://www.visit-salzburg.net/sights/almkanal.htm
Sandwich, England	Open channel watercourse & aqueducts brought water from the Delf to the town. Probably started with monks of Christchurch priory in 12th century.	https://www.researchgate.net/publication/271947152_Piped_water_supplies_managed_by_civic_bodies_in_medieval_English_towns
Santiago de Compostela	Public fountain	Water Technology in the Middle Ages. Cities, Monasteries, and Waterworks after the Roman Empire By Roberta J. Magnusson, 2002
Segovia, Spain	Roman aqueduct still in use after Roman rule, partially destroyed by Moors in 1072, rebuilt in 1400s, remained in use till 1800s.	https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aqueduct_of_Segovia The continuity of Roman water supply systems in post-Roman Spain: the case of Valentia, a reliable example?, by Javier Martínez Jiménez
Scarborough, England	1283 agreement for conduit to supply Franciscan friars and burgesses, constructed 1319	https://www.sahs.org.uk/Recent-Fieldwork.html Piped water supplies managed by civic bodies in medieval English towns
Schaffhausen, Switzerland	Drinking water fountains fed with water through pipes, since 1315.
Siena, Italy	Fountains built in 11th century, expanded in 13th. For industry but also for animals & laundry. Water brought here over miles.	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fontebranda,_Siena Water Technology in the Middle Ages. Cities, Monasteries, and Waterworks after the Roman Empire By Roberta J. Magnusson, 2002
Skopje, Macedonia	Ottoman period aqueduct works.	https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/5/4/1996
Southampton, England	1310 Franciscan friary allowed burgesses pipe from their cistern. Conduit purchased by town 1421	https://historicengland.org.uk/services-skills/education/educational-images/conduit-house-southampton-6336 Piped water supplies managed by civic bodies in medieval English towns Water Technology in the Middle Ages. Cities, Monasteries, and Waterworks after the Roman Empire By Roberta J. Magnusson, 2002
Spoleto, Italy.	Ponte delle Torri, bridge & aqueduct combined. Completed in 14th century.	https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ponte_delle_Torri
Sulmona, Italy	Aqueduct, 1256. Mostly for farming but also for industry.	https://www.sulmonalive.it/sulmona-medieval-aqueduct?lang=en
T
Tallinn, Estonia	A stone aqueduct from Lake Ülemiste to Harju Gate was built in the 14th century, later wooden pipelines were installed under the streets.	https://pealinn.ee/2018/08/27/tallinn-uhkeldas-keskajal-moodsaima-veevargiga/
Tarragona, Spain	Aqueduct in use during Visigoth period	The continuity of Roman water supply systems in post-Roman Spain: the case of Valentia, a reliable example?, by Javier Martínez Jiménez
Taunton, England	By 1414 conduit in existence	Piped water supplies managed by civic bodies in medieval English towns
Tielt, Belgium	Late medieval wooden pipes for water transport, uncertain if they were for drinking or waste water.	Archeologie van de Middeleeuwen en de Moderne Tijden in België en aangrenzende gebieden https://archaeologiamediaevalis.be/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/AM_29-2006.pdf
Tiverton, England	Mid-thirteenth century: Isabella, countess of Devon gave the right to springs which were brought by open leat to the borough	Piped water supplies managed by civic bodies in medieval English towns
Toruń, Poland	Water transported into town through wooden pipes in the 14th century.	https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12685-021-00295-3#Sec3
U
Ulm, Germany	Waterpipes being used.	https://www.mittelalter-lexikon.de/wiki/Wasserleitungen
V
València, Spain	Functioning aqueduct in use till 11th century	The continuity of Roman water supply systems in post-Roman Spain: the case of Valentia, a reliable example?, by Javier Martínez Jiménez
Vienna, Austria	Waterpipes being used.
Viterbo, Italy	Public fountains	Water Technology in the Middle Ages. Cities, Monasteries, and Waterworks after the Roman Empire By Roberta J. Magnusson, 2002
W
Waltham	1220s abbey provided supply from its conduit to townspeople	Piped water supplies managed by civic bodies in medieval English towns
Wells, England	Early thirteenth century open conduit built to carry water through cloistral area to market place. 1451 Bishop Beckington granted burgesses portion of water	Piped water supplies managed by civic bodies in medieval English towns
Westminster, England	1447 townspeople granted overflow from palace conduit	Piped water supplies managed by civic bodies in medieval English towns
Winchester, England	Probably from late ninth century: open water channels along streets, 1481 Waterwheel & pipes of lead or wood brought water to the college.	https://www.jstor.org/stable/26398298 Piped water supplies managed by civic bodies in medieval English towns
Windisch, Switzerland.	The aqueduct of Vindonissa, build by the Romans it continued to be used during the middle ages and is still in use today! Pipes of clay, lead & wood were used.	https://www.museumaargau.ch/en/legionary-trail/roman-sites/water-system-aquaeductus
Wrocław (Breslau, Wratislavia), Poland.	Waterwheel, pipes of wood, clay & early stoneware – 1298-1377	https://apcz.umk.pl/AHP/article/view/36620/30901
X
Y
Ypres/Ieper, Belgium.	Medieval wooden & lead water pipes, used since the 13th century.	https://www.terramag.be/actueel/middeleeuwse-waterleiding-ontdekt-in-ieper/ Community, Urban Health and Environment in the Late Medieval Low Countries, by Janna Coomans
Z
Žatce, Czech Republic.	In 1386 the town management decided to build a waterworks with water tower for intake from Ohře. Wooden pipe system in 15th century.	https://www.svs.cz/cz/verejnost/aktuality/2021/historie-severoceskych-vodovodnich-potrubi-saha-hluboko-do-minulosti.html
Znojmo, Czech republic.	14th/15th century Network of tunnels under the city with wells and an underground water circulation system with drains, cisterns, conduits, etc.	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Znojmo_Catacombs
Zürich, Switzerland.	13th century Waterwheels, wooden & clay water pipes.	Die mittelalterliche Tonrohr-Wasserleitung in das Areal der Dominikaner von Zürich (PDF link)

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