technological wonders of the past
What state-of-the-art computers and data centers are for humanity today, mills were 2000 years ago – technological wonders that revolutionized everyday working life.
Mills are among the oldest machines in the world that are powered by natural energy and were considered indispensable for a long time. The mills could be admired all over Germany - including in the Leipzig region. A distinction was made between watermills and windmills.
The history of the mill tradition goes back to 1200 BC, when artificial irrigation using water wheels was first used in Mesopotamia. When people finally started to grow their own grain, the need to grind these grains also arose. At first this was done with "grinding stones". This technique was also found in Egypt. In Europe, the Romans revolutionized the use of this technology. Vitruvius, a Roman architectural writer, describes the first water mill with a stone grinding gear in 24 BC. This technology eventually spread to German soil through the Roman people.
In the Middle Ages, the monks initially kept the historical knowledge about mills for themselves - thus shaping the milling industry up to the present day. Over the years, this knowledge developed further: where mills were initially only used to grind grain, they soon became part of a wide range of technical work tasks.
With industrialization, water and windmills became increasingly less important and were replaced by steam engines. In 1957, the then Chancellor Konrad Adenauer passed the so-called Mill Closure Act, which granted all owners of mills and millers a bonus - but on the condition that they not use the mills for 30 years. As a result, most mills were permanently closed down. Within just under 100 years, the number of mills in Germany fell from 70.000 to 6.000.
A new golden age
Meanwhile, mills all over Germany are being renovated or put back into operation and regularly delight visitors at events.
The oldest form of mill is the so-called "post mill" - also known as the "German mill". This type is very common in northern Saxony: the "Döbler" post mill near Löbnitz is one of the oldest in the mill region. With this type, the entire mill body is always turned into the wind with a stern when the wind direction changes.
Even though the original mills have now largely been replaced by modern large mills, they are still considered historical witnesses of past years.
"Thomas walked barefoot with a nun across the meadow" - Leipzig as a mill city
For a long time, this saying was used as a mnemonic device to remember the names of the mills in Leipzig. In the city, too, the mills were considered an important driving force until the 19th century, as water was the most important source of energy. In addition, the regulation of the weirs in the city ensured a certain level of protection against flooding.
The oldest mill in the city is the Barfußmühle, which was built in the 10th century in connection with the Libzi Castle. To enable the mill to operate, a mill ditch was built on what is now Friedrich-Ebert-Straße, which eventually flowed into the Parthe. Over the years, the mill changed owners several times. From 1818 to 1827, Johann Christian Gottlieb's piano factory had its headquarters there. The property has been used by the Mendelssohn Bartholdy University of Music and Theatre in Leipzig since 2002.
The Thomas Mill was located about 250 meters southeast of the Barfuß Mill on what is now Dittrichring. Its name is based on the Thomas Church of the Augustinian monastery of St. Thomas. The Thirty Years' War damaged the building, but the mill was rebuilt.
Another very old mill is the Angermühle, dating from 1165. Originally known as Jacobsmühle, its name was derived from the Jacobskirche opposite, which was later demolished. The name changed accordingly. Located on the Elstermühlgraben, the mill belonged to the Augustinian monastery of St. Thomas. It later became private property until it was finally taken over by the city of Leipzig in 1492. Originally, the Angermühle, with its ten water wheels and two mill buildings, was used to make paper, and later also as a tobacco, spice and oil mill. With the story "Fausten's Hellish Compulsion in the Angermühle in Leipzig", Johann Gottfried Gregorii, known under the pseudonym MELISSANTES, created a literary monument to the mill. The Angermühle is the main town in the legend and tells of the apprentice Johann Georg C., who wants to summon the devil with a copy of Fausten's Hellish Compulsion and a divining rod.
There was also once another mill on what is now the Karl-Tauchnitz Bridge: the Nonnenmühle. Around 1287, nuns from the Georgenkloster, which was moved from Hohenlohe to Leipzig, built this mill not far from their monastery. From the 16th to the 19th century, the mill served as the city's water supply. From the 19th century, various types of cardboard were also manufactured there. There was a bathing establishment under the mill. Today, an installation of small water wheels on the open Pleißemühlgraben in Nonnenmühlgasse reminds us of the historic building.
Around 1454, the Leipzig city council hired an armorer - a specialized blacksmith - to maintain its armor and equipment. However, this blacksmith needed a polishing facility for his craft, which at that time was usually powered by water power. At that time, no mill was fully owned by the city, so a ship mill was positioned in the Pleißemühlgraben, near the Ranstädter Steinweg - the polishing mill.
Until the 19th century, only a horse-drawn trestle provided the driving power for the city. This gave rise to the name of the Rossmühle in Leipzig, which was located opposite the Kleines Kolleg of the University of Leipzig. However, the mill had to make way for the construction of the Georgenhalle.
There were also mills in the villages of Connewitz, Lößnig and Dölitz, which were later incorporated into Leipzig. By the middle of the 12th century, these places had jointly built a mill ditch on the Pleiße, with each village operating a mill on it.
But watermills were not the only things to be found in Leipzig - windmills also adorned the city. The oldest known windmill was located on what is now Bayerischer Platz. After its destruction in the Thirty Years' War, Windmill Street still commemorates it today. Over time, more than 35 more windmills were built in the surrounding villages - especially in places that had no access to flowing water. The most famous was the Quandt tobacco mill in Thonberg, which fell victim to the Battle of the Nations in 1813.
Insider tips for mill fans – the Leipzig region
The technical monuments regularly attract numerous visitors. The town of Bad Düben has six windmills alone. The most famous of these is the post mill from 1840. Flour was milled there until 1960. However, due to the construction of Leipzig/Halle Airport, the mill had to make way for its former location in Glesien and was finally completely reconstructed and rebuilt north of the Dübener Obermühle in 2006. The Dübener Obermühle is the oldest of its kind in the region and was first mentioned in the 15th century. As part of the Dübener Heide museum village, the mill is fully functional after its restoration. The Bergschiffmühle, the former Niedermühle, which now houses the Paetsch bakery, the Schüßler town mill and the Sommerfeld post mill are also worth a visit.
Becher's Mill is located in Eilenburg: The tower windmill from the 19th century was purchased by miller August Becher - after whom it was named. Due to war damage, the mill could only be operated electrically - even in the production of food and animal feed. In 1994, the mill was reconstructed, but without wings.
The municipality of Löbnitz has another post mill. The mill, built in 1760, used wind power until 1924 to grind grain. Electric motors were rarely used. Initially, this location was used for grinding grain, but by 1996 it was only used for grinding grain. After restoration, the mill was given a new drive wheel and new rods. The technical equipment still consists of an oat crusher and a grinding mill.
Almost all of the region's post mills, such as those in Lindennaundorf, Kühnitzsch, Ballendorf, Luppa and Zeukritz, are still almost completely preserved and functional. The mills were often operated in conjunction with other craft trades: for example, next to the Schmannewitz post mill there was also a bakery where the freshly ground grain was processed.
The last commercial windmill operator in the region was based in Doberschütz. In 1933, Ernst Friedemann acquired the tower windmill in Paschwitz, which had been built in 1883. This still had to be held in the wind by hand in order to function. Edgar Friedemann took over the business in 1975 and was actively involved in the business until 1997. Today, the cozy miller's room invites you to linger. The associated mill barn is a popular event location.
The town of Grimma is of particular interest to younger generations: the water mill on the Mulde is located in the idyllic village of Höfgen. The former grain mill was in operation until 1954. Today, there is a technical display facility with a museum exhibition including an adjoining guest house. The museum gives visitors an insight into the still functional milling technology as well as the working and living conditions of the miller families. Anyone looking for special accommodation to spend the night will also find what they are looking for in Grimma: the adventure hotel "Zur Schiffsmühle" with the restaurant "Mühlenstube" also focuses on the milling trade. This popular excursion destination was created based on the ship mill that operated there until 1871. Today's hotel offers numerous unique highlights, including the sauna area, the restaurant with panoramic terrace and the bowling grotto with real rock walls made of porphyry.
A living cultural monument
Most of these locations north of Leipzig are managed by the Mühlenregion Nordsachsen eV association. The association, founded in 2000, is primarily committed to the preservation of the mills, their reconstruction, the promotion of local heritage and cultural heritage, and public education. This will give all future generations an insight into the work of the mills, which are powered by electricity, wind and water power.
If you want to explore the region's mills, you can do so in a variety of ways. On various cycle paths through the country, interested parties can not only learn about the milling trade, but also enjoy nature in all its beauty. National cycle paths such as the Elbe Cycle Path, the Berlin-Leipzig Cycle Path, the Mulde Cycle Path or the Luther Trail Saxony also bring together a large number of historic mills along their routes. Guided tours are offered regularly in almost all mills, providing insights into the premises. In addition, German Mill Day takes place every year at Pentecost. More than 20 locations in the region then open their doors to visitors and organize a variety of programs.