Starý mlýn (Březová) Water mill

Welcome to March. You've just stopped in front of one of the most interesting building units in the area. You are standing right in front of the Old Mill, which is often referred to as the Shooting Mill in these contexts. If you look around now, you probably perceive the strange atmosphere of this place where the calm of nature mingles with the echo of ancient, rich history. This building is not just an ordinary house; It is a witness to the transformations that have gone through this landscape in the last centuries. Feel her presence, her shapes and the special harmony with which she became involved in the local landscape.

To understand why this building looks like it is right now, we have to go back deep into the past. This place has not always been what it is today. The story of this place begins much before the first brick of the current object was laid. In its original form, Labitzky Mill stood here. Imagine the old, functional world where the mill was used primarily for the work and livelihood of the locals. But time has brought new needs and new interests. A major fraction occurred in 1898 when the shooting corps purchased the property. This was the moment when the fate of this place was reflected from purely agricultural or industrial activity towards social and social life.

This new direction was clearly defined by the intention to build a background for the Karlovy Vary shooting corps. But it wasn't just a future home for sharpshooters; It was also meant to be a place of meeting, a place of rest and a place of joy. In 1899 the opening of the café and restaurant Střelecký mlýn took place. From that moment on, this object became an indispensable part of life around here. Thanks to its unique location and its ability to offer guests a pleasant environment, people from around the area and especially spa guests from nearby Karlovy Vary started meeting here very soon. Imagine those times when people were walking around the spa promenades in the best social clothes, and their goal was this mill to relax after their walks.

Now pay attention to the architecture itself, which now surrounds you. If you look at the overall design of the building, you can search for certain historical patterns. Important architects, Carl Haberzettl and Emmanuel Grimm were behind the design of this building. Their work here is not random. The architecture that you are currently observing was deliberately inspired by a real historical object, namely the Gahmühle, a played mill from the seventeenth century. Although it is a construction from the end of the nineteenth century, architects tried to make the building look authentic, to make it feel history and tradition. So feel the effort to combine the modern comfort of the time with the aesthetic beauty of old, traditional building elements. This choice of style was very well thought out because it was meant to create a sense of stability and historical continuity, which was very important for the then visitors to the spa.

The history of this place is also closely linked to the great names that at that time dominated the fate of the entire monarchy. Looking at these walls, you can imagine what significant personalities were probably hosting here. There is a connection with figures like Theodor Malo or emperor Franz Joseph I. The opening of the shooting range itself, which was closely connected to the mill, was festively arranged in 1898 to celebrate the 50th jubilee of the reign of emperor Franz Joseph I. This must give you an idea of the importance and weight of this place. It was not just an ordinary business, but a place that could link a high society to a local tradition.

And if we want to go even deeper into the stories that were left by the visitors at the time, we have to mention 1910. It was at that time that Archduke Charles hosted, who later became a Tsar. Imagine the excitement, the elegance and the dignity that must have been floating in these spaces at that moment. Every step of the guests back then, every word spoken at the restaurant table, was part of the great history that took place right before your very eyes.

There is also one interesting thing that may make you look at this object a little differently. Although today we see the Old Mill as a calm and harmonious object, its creation was driven by the dynamic development of the then society and by the need to create space for sports and social activities. It is fascinating how from a simple place where the original Labitzký Mill used to work, such a sophisticated monument developed to satisfy the demanding tastes of the spa elite. This transformation from the mill to a luxurious place of rest and entertainment is one of the most interesting stories you can find in this place.

Today, this object is recognised as an important cultural monument, which gives it a whole new dimension. Since 2006, it has been protected as a testament to architects and as a monument to the then era. So when you look at the building again, don't only realize its external appearance, but see it as a living organism that has survived for centuries, changes in political regimes and changes in social values.

There is no other mandatory program for you now, but I suggest you continue your search. Walk around, feel the atmosphere and try to imagine in your mind how you would feel if you were guests in a restaurant over a hundred years ago. Let this walk bring you much joy and allow you to suck even deeper into the history of this beautiful place. Thank you for your visit and please read if there are other information points in the area that might interest you further. Goodbye.