Great Mill Tour along the Schöps and Neisse Rivers

Mills were vital for the supply of flour. They existed in almost every village. Depending on the circumstances, water or wind power was used to operate the mill. It was only with the invention of the electric motor that the old mills became superfluous. Yet, like the railway, they bear witness to a long-gone romanticism of a profession that is still talked about and dreamed of today. Mills were not only distinguished according to their type of drive and construction, but also according to whether they belonged to a castle, monastery or council mill. There was a grinding obligation and a mill peace. Superstition, legends and mythical creatures are associated with mills.

The miller's job was very diverse. The miller repaired the mill himself if necessary, he took over hauling services, mostly with donkeys. There were not only grain mills, but also saw mills, paper mills, grinding mills, bone mills and several others. The great decline of the mills began with the increasing industrialization at the end of the 19th

Detailed information on the mill sites are available at the marked points along the route.