Větrný mlýn (Starý Poddvorov) Windmill

Welcome to the windmill in the village Starý Poddvorov. Right now, listening to these words, you're standing in a place where history meets nature and time stops. Look around you and feel the place. You are on the hill at the start. It's a landmark that offers you a beautiful view. Notice how calm the landscape surrounds you. There are vast vineyards and broad fields that flow to the horizon. Right here, in this open space, where the wind has free roads, this wooden structure is standing. He acts as a silent guardian of the surrounding fields and vineyards. It's an object that immediately captures you with its height and its unique form. There is a windmill before you, which is not only a historical sign, but also proof of human art and the effort to work with what nature gives us.

Now let's look together at what you see right in front of you. This building is not just an ordinary wooden house. It is a windmill type of pillar, sometimes called the ram mill. This is a very important detail that determines the whole nature of it. Look at his character. It's a two-storey wooden structure that measures over nine meters to height. Its base is relatively compact, occupying approximately four and a half meters on one side and four and three tenths on the other. Although this building is on a relatively small plan, its vertical dimension gives it dignity. Notice how its walls are made up of vertical boards. This wooden skeleton is carefully formatted and the boards are connected with each other by means of overmoulds, which creates a solid and durable packaging of the whole building. This whole machine was designed to withstand the force of wind, which is absolutely crucial to its operation.

Now pay attention to the most distinctive part you see at the top of the mill. It's a wind bike. Look up at the four big blades. Their average is an incredible 13 meters. Imagine the force that this mechanism was able to use when the blades started to turn under the air. This whole structure is designed to capture even a weaker breeze and transform its movement into work. Although the mill is no longer spinning for flour production, its presence here still resembles the era when wind energy was the main engine of human labour.

Note also the roof of the mill. It's a very interesting architectural element. It has a saddle shape, but its structure is specific to where the wind blows. On the side where the wind most often comes, the roof is semi-wooden, while on the side of the leeward is already fully wavy. This detail shows how deep knowledge of wind work was and how the construction had to be designed to be as resistant as possible to weather effects. This whole wooden building is listed in the central list of cultural monuments, which confirms that you are looking at the real treasure of our heritage.

To understand why this mill is here, we need to go back deep into the past. This mill is not the original resident of this design. His history is the story of constant movement and finding the right place. It was built in 1870, more than a century ago. At that time, the windmill was an absolutely essential machine for the community. But the most interesting thing is his path. This mill wasn't always here. Originally he stood in the village of Mutěnice. Later he was moved to Týnek near Breclav and only after this long journey, after many years of service in other places, he found his final home right here in Old Poddřerov. Imagine the difficulty in how people had to move such a large and fragile wooden structure in the past. It was a work that required great skill, strength and planning.

This mill has passed many stages of its life. In 1999 it became the property of the municipality, which was a crucial moment for its preservation. The mill could continue to exist for future generations, thanks to the fact that the village took care of it. Years of intensive care followed. Between 2002 and 2003, there was a major overhaul. It was a fundamental work that ensured that the wooden structure, roof and the whole wind wheel would be in good condition and that the mill would remain solid even in the most difficult times. It is thanks to this repair that you can see this mill today in such good condition.

Although we don't know the names of the particular architects who designed this mill, or the personalities who took care of it in the past, its existence alone tells the story of the people who worked with wood, wind and machines in the 1880s. It's a story about a community that needed flour and people who could use the power of nature to make their lives easier.

Now I want to invite you to a little thought. Imagine this mill over 150 years ago. Imagine the noise of the blades, the movement of air and the smell of freshly ground grains. This mill was once the heart of the surrounding countryside, a place where people met and everyday life took place. It stands here today as a silent monument to the time, as a symbol of stability and tradition in a rapidly changing world. It's a fascinating mystery how this wooden structure has been able to transform from one place to another for several decades, while still surviving until today.

The windmill in Old Poddřerov is really a unique piece of history that stands right before your eyes. It's a combination of wood, wind and human effort. I hope this short journey over time has helped you better understand the beauty and importance of this place. Now that you know about his history, his construction and his long journey from Mutenice to here, I suggest you continue your tour of the area. Take a walk on the hill on the Zahájky, feel the wind that once powered the blades of this mill, and enjoy the beauty of the vineyards and fields that this mill has so faithfully guarded. Thank you for spending some time with this historic monument. We wish you a nice walk and many other interesting experiences in our beautiful landscape. Goodbye.