Liegiosserův mlýn Water mill

Welcome to the Netolics. Stop for a moment, take a breath and feel the atmosphere of this place. You're standing in front of one of the most important witnesses of local history, the Liegiosser Mill. It's a fascinating place that takes you deep into the past in time. Look around you. You are in the very heart of the city, where the Bezdrev stream seeks its way under the dam of the Monk pond. This position, in close proximity to the water and strategically located below the dam, determined the fate of the entire object. Water has been a source of life in the past, but also the greatest enemy, and it is this dualism that carries Liegiosserův mlýn for centuries.

Now that you're looking at the building in front of you, remember that its basic history dates back to the last quarter of the 16th century. So imagine the time of the Renaissance, the time of the boom of art, trade and new thinking. This is when the mill was founded. At that time, the mill was not just a simple grain milling building, but a key economic center of the whole area. It was a knot where local farmers, traders and craftsmen met. The whole building was closely linked from the beginning to the water development of the region, which was at that time absolutely essential for the survival and prosperity of the city.

Now pay attention to the appearance of the building itself. Look at its facade and feel its overall availability. Even though we're looking at an object today that's been through a lot of changes, there's still a long way to go. It is a protected cultural monument of the Czech Republic and it is in this protection that recognition of its value lies. Although the internal miller technology, the complex system of wheels, heaters and millstones, has unfortunately not been preserved, the object itself remains a valuable architectural document. Notice how the building fits into the landscape and how naturally it communicates with the flowing water of the stream. It is harmony that has been created for generations.

Now let's move on to the stories that took place in these walls and around them. The history of this mill is not only a story about grinding grains, but also a story about power, disputes and ambitions. At the end of the 16th century, the mill found itself in the center of a dramatic conflict. The main role here was played by Jakub Krčín, a powerful Rozberg regent, a man with a great vision, but also with a firm will. The Krčín set out to build a large sewer which did not go in the name Krčínka. For many, it was an engineering triumph, but for the owners of this mill, it was a disaster. The construction of the sewer took most of the water from the creek, which meant the loss of its most valuable energy source for the mill. Imagine the resistance and desperation of the miller who saw their livelihoods disappear in the newly dug canals for the greater goals of the local monarch. It was a dispute over water, about survival and the right to use natural resources that left a deep mark in local memory.

But the fate of the mill was tested in a different way than human disputes. In the seventeenth century, there was a test that was much more destructive. Look at the stream of the stream and imagine what happened on July 10th in the year six hundred and sixty-three. That's when the devastating flood came, which with brutal force hit the entire area. The water that used to serve the mill turned into a destroyer. The mill was practically destroyed at the time. It was a period of deep sadness and loss, but also a period of new hope. The building was not left in ruins. The early Baroque renewal followed, which gave the mill a new face and a new life energy. It is thanks to this resilience and will of local people that we can stand before this construction today and admire its duration.

But time did not stand and the mill had to adapt to new times. If we move far ahead until the year one thousand nine hundred thirty, we will see a fascinating technological leap. At that time, Francis' turbine was installed in the mill. That was the moment when the old mill met with modern technology. The turbine had a flow rate of 0.400 cubic meters per second and a power output of 13 horsepower. It may seem like a small number to you today, but at the time it meant a huge increase in efficiency and modernisation of the entire operation. It was a symbol that Liegiosserův mlýn was able to survive the Renaissance, the baroque and the flood disasters and remain relevant in the modern world of the twentieth century.

Interestingly, this mill has a certain mystery in it. It's a secret about invisible wealth. Although we do not see any wheels or belts in operation today, the whole building still carries a print of the miller's craft. It's like a book from which some pages were ripped out, but we can still read the whole story out of context. The mystery remains, how many other small stories, arguments and laughter have taken place in these walls over the centuries. How many people have come here with the hope of a good yield and how many have left with a full bag of flour and a calm heart.

Now that you know the story of Liegiosser's Mill, I suggest you stay with him for a while. Close your eyes and listen to the noise of the Bezdrev creek. Try to imagine the noise that existed here centuries ago, when the turbine or the mill wheel worked with great force and the whole building vibrated slightly. Feel the contrast between today's peace of the centre of Netolic and the dynamics that have defined this place for more than 400 years.

This mill is a reminder of how important we have a relationship to water and how much nature can give us, but also punish us. It is a symbol of endurance, because even after the destruction of floods and disputes with powerful people like Jakub Krčín, the building still stands and tells its story to anyone who stops and puts on headphones.

Thank you for accompanying me on this short journey to the history of Liegiosser Mill. I hope you are interested in this story and that you are now looking at this building with different eyes. Now invited to further explore the beautiful corners of Netolic. Take a look at the surroundings, see the architecture of the city, and look for the other traces of the past that this picturesque place hides inside. I wish you a pleasant journey and a beautiful day in our city. Goodbye.