Vodní mlýn (Nové Veselí) Water mill

The water mill in Nový Veselí is a Gothic building with Renaissance modifications, which stands on the river Záslava under the dam of the Veselské Pond and is built with nearby fortress, whose north wing is formed. The object came from the Gothic core and was probably renaissance-adjusted around 1563. Since 1994 it has been protected as a real-estate cultural monument of the Czech Republic.

It is a water mill which, thanks to its Gothic core and subsequent Renaissance reconstruction, represents a rare example of the combination of both building styles in one building. Its importance lies in preserved architectural elements - rolled and cross vaults in the interior and Renaissance sgraffiti in the courtyard, under which late Gothic drawings were discovered.

The exact date of creation of the Gothic nucleus is not specified in the supporting documents. According to the available information, the building was renaissance-adjusted probably in 1563 together with the reconstruction of the neighbouring fortress, the initiator of the reconstruction was Alena Meziříčská z Lomnice, the lady at the castle in Velké Meziříčí and the owner of the Veselský goods.

The interior of the mill contains rooms with a valena and a cross vault. There is a Renaissance decoration in the courtyard, in the form of a sgraffiti, which combines simple square-shaped motifs and plant spiral-curved tendrils growing from vases. This sgraffiti on the eastern facade was unveiled during the repairs of the facade in the 1990s and later Gothic drawings painted with clay red were found under its layer. In 1930 the mill had two wheels for upper water with a flow rate of 0,085 m ³ / s and 0,083 m ³ / s, a drop of 4,5 m and a power of 3,31 k and 3,23 k; the water wheel was removed during World War II.

At the end of the 18th century, the miller Matěj Růžička bought the building, which had it adapted to four residential houses. After World War II, the mill was nationalized and disintegrated without maintenance. After 1990 it was returned to the original owners, whose descendants gradually repaired the house.

In 1994 the mill was declared a cultural monument of the Czech Republic. During World War II, technical facilities were modernised and water wheels removed. In the nineties of the 20th century during the reconstruction of the facade, the Renaissance sgraffiti was unveiled and underlaid by late Gothic drawings.

Currently the mill is privately owned by the descendants of the original owners and is gradually repaired. As a real cultural monument, it is located on the river Záslava near the dam of the Vesel pond, adjacent to the fortress. The preserved rolled and crossed vaults, Renaissance sgraffiti and remains of late Gothic painting are preserved elements that the object offers for viewing.

Mill in New Cheerful is valuable evidence of high-rise building development, where Gothic foundations intersect Renaissance decorations and late Gothic paintings. Its preserved elements offer a direct view of the history of local mill operation and architectural craft. It is recommended to include it in the itinerary when visiting the Zdar nad Sázavou region.