Vodní mlýn čp. 10 Water mill

Welcome to the water mill with descriptive number ten, which is called Buda. You are standing in front of this historic landmark on the banks of the Sazava River in the village of Horka in the district of Kutna Hora and have just put on headphones to hear the story of this remarkable place. Look around you and see the atmosphere this building radiates. In front of you, there is an entire complex with a closed, rectangular layout that carries traces of many years of human work and transformation. If you look at what's right in front of your eyes, you see a complex that includes a residential building, a mill itself, an apartment once designed for miller workers and the necessary economic buildings. This whole form a harmonious picture of folk construction, which is firmly connected to the water flow.

Let's move forward in time and see how this mill was formed and what its historical context was. The whole object dates back to the first quarter of the nineteenth century and carries in it the essays of Classicism. It was created at a time when the river Sazava was an important artery for grinding grain and when the milling craft was of great weight in the region. People lived here in close contact with nature and water-powered mill wheels were the main source of livelihood. The building stood by the road and near the river, which made it easier to transport the grain to grinding and to transport the flour to the customers. Over the years, this mill has undergone a number of necessary adjustments that correspond to technical progress and the needs of the time.

Now pay attention to the architecture itself and the details that you can see at the construction site before you. Take a look at the facade and overall layout of the complex, which is enclosed in a rectangular form. Stop by to see the individual parts, such as the residential building or the mill. Although the building underwent modernization over the years, it retained its historical character as a classical building from the first quarter of the nineteenth century. When you look at developments over the centuries, you will find that the mill underwent significant modernization already in the 1980s. Another big milestone in technical equipment came in the year one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, when the modern Francis turbine was installed. It then replaced the original water wheels and moved the mill to a new level of efficiency.

The history of this place is interwoven with many stories about people who worked and lived here. The names of specific builders or historical figures do not indicate the sources, but the fates of the miller and their families are written in invisible letters in the walls. The grinding of the grain was a heavy kernel that depended on the power of water and the whims of weather. The break in the life of the mill came after nineteen hundred forty-eight, when the object was nationalized. It was then incorporated under the Central Bohemian mills, which meant a great deal of interference in the traditional way of operation. In the year one thousand nine hundred and fifty, the milling of the crop finally stopped and only the saw, which was used to process the wood, remained in operation.

The interesting thing that will attract your attention here is its transformation in modern times. The mill No. 10 is protected as a real cultural monument, which underlines its historical value. While people used to grind the grain and later cut the wood, there was another turn in the 1980s. At the mill, a tourist autocamp was set up, which brought new life to the quiet valley of Sazava. Today you will no longer hear the click of the millstones or the hum of the saw, because the object has undergone sensitive modernization and serves as a guesthouse and restaurant.

In conclusion, we'd like to invite you to explore this beautiful place again. You can enter, sit in the restaurant, enjoy a pleasant atmosphere or walk near the Sazava River and perceive the genius loci of this classic mill. Thank you for listening to our audio guide, and we wish you a wonderful experience in the next discovery of history in Horce nad Sázavou. Goodbye.