Great Mill Route along Schöps and Neisse

Mills were vital for supplying flour. They existed in almost every town. Depending on conditions, water or wind power was used to operate the mill. Only with the invention of the electric motor did the old mills become obsolete. Yet, much like the railway, they testify to a long-past romance of a profession that is still spoken of and dreamed about today. Mills were distinguished not only by their type of drive and construction but also by their affiliation as castle, monastery, or council mills. There was a milling obligation and mill peace. Superstition, legends, and mythical creatures are connected with mills.
"Good luck" has been the miller’s greeting for ages. The miller’s job was very versatile, not only grinding grain. The miller repaired the mill when necessary, took on transport services, mostly with donkeys. There were not only grain mills but also sawmills, paper mills, grinding mills, bone mills, and several others. The great decline of the mills began with increasing industrialization at the end of the 19th century. In today’s modern wind turbines, the old mill romance lives on to some extent.

Detailed information about the mill locations is available at the marked points along the route.