Vodní mlýn (Pšovka) Water mill

Welcome, distinguished visitors. Stop for a moment, take a breath and feel the peace of the neighborhood. Right now, you're standing in front of a place where the power of water, human labor and centuries of history are united. In front of you is the area of water mill in Pošovka near Mělníka. It is a place that carries the silent testimony of how people lived and worked in times when the rhythm of the day did not determine the clock, but the stream of rivers and the needs of agriculture. Look at the overall view of this complex. Here you will see a set of buildings that were closely related and formed one functioning unit in which each corner had its exact purpose. It is a space that immediately transmits you beyond the rush of the modern world to a time when water was the main source of energy.

Let us now look together at how this place was created and how it evolved. The roots of this mill go deep into the Middle Ages. Imagine there was already a grain milling machine here at that time that served the locals. At that time the mill was not a private business in the sense of today's sense, but it was the property of the monastery. The monasteries at that time served not only as spiritual centres, but also as centres of economic development and knowledge. It is thanks to them that these buildings have been maintained and developed. But time passed and ownership changed. The crucial break was the year seven hundred forty when the mill bought František Antonín Lichmann. With its arrival, the mill became part of a private business, which probably brought new impetus to its development and governance. From that time until our days the mill has undergone many changes to maintain its usefulness. In the early 20th century, a wave of modernization came. The mill was rebuilt at this time to meet the new technical standards of that time, which gave it the form we see today.

Now pay attention to the architecture itself before you. Look carefully at the facade and layout of the buildings. Note the interesting contrast in the anotomy of the main structures. The building's residential area where the grinder and his family lived has one floor. It's a space created for home and peace. On the other hand, the mill building, where the main technological process of grinding took place, is much higher and has three floors. But both of these parts are connected under one common roof, creating a harmonious whole. Look up now, at the windshield. If you take into account the plaster, you'll see the date of the thousand nine hundred and ten. This number tells us exactly when the building was completed or substantially modified at the time. It's like a little signature of time that reminds us of the last great era of the mill trade before the start of full industrial production.

In addition to the main building, there are other important elements that complement the image of the farm at the time. Notice the shalanda, which was a building designed to store goods and raw materials. It's a place where grain was hoarding before milling or full flour before shipping. Next to it you will find a horse show, which reminds of the time when horses were the only and most important transport for heavy bags. Don't forget about the barn that was a necessary part of any such economy. The whole area is closed by a wall with gates, which gives the area a feeling of a closed, safe world in which everything was done in accordance with the natural cycle of work.

When we think about the people who worked here, we remember characters like the František Antonín Lichmann mentioned. Imagine him managing his newly purchased goods in the eighteenth century, overseeing the state of the wheels and planning future development. The mill industry was at that time highly respected, but also a demanding profession. The miller had to be not only a skilled craftsman, but also a manager and sometimes a diplomat. Life in such an area was full of work from dawn to dark, accompanied by a constant noise of water from the river Pšovka, which was the heart of the whole operation.

Now, let's invite you to an interesting event that may trigger your curiosity. This mill is not known in local memory only under its official name. It has a number of aliases that reflect different views of this place. Some are known as the Polabska or Podlabská Mill, which refers to its proximity to the great Elbe River. Others refer to it as the Devil's Mill. Why so? In folk mythology and legend, mills have often been associated with secrets, waterfoils, or the devils who supposedly helped build or moved machiners at night. It's fascinating how one building can have such different names, from descriptive to full of secrets. Another name is the Kosair Mill, which brings us back to the personalities who left their mark here in later times.

This combination of history, technology, and folk stories of the mill in Pošovka is unique. That is why it was officially recognised and protected as a real-estate cultural monument of the Czech Republic in the year two thousand and ten. This means that the state has recognised its irreplaceable value for our grandfathers and decided that this architecture and atmosphere must be preserved for future generations so that they too can feel the connection to the past.

Now that you know the story of this place, I suggest you take a slow walk around the wall, look at the details of the gates and look again at the high mill with the dates on the shield. Try to imagine the sound of spinning stones, the smell of freshly ground flour and the noise of horses in the horseman. Feel how the water from the Pšovka river continues to wave quietly, just as it did hundreds of years ago, when the mill belonged to the monastery or when Mr. Lichmann took over in seven hundred and forty.

Thank you for accompanying me on this short journey in time. I hope that this view of the water mill in Oshovka helped you better understand its meaning and beauty. Now all you have to do is look at everything at your own pace and enjoy the peace of this historic corner of Mělníka. I wish you a pleasant further walk and many new discoveries. Goodbye.