Technical monuments Abrahám

Vodný mlyn Jelka, also known as Némethov mlyn, is situated in the beautiful natural environment of the village of the same name, on the banks of the Malý Dunaj river. It is originally a ship mill that was converted into a stake mill in 1905. In Central Europe, it is considered a rarity as it has three floors. The mill in Jelka is an exhibition of the Vlastivedné múzeum v Galante.

The location in which it is situated is tailor-made for water mills. This is also confirmed by statistics from the past. In 1866, there were approximately 37 mills on the Malý Dunaj, 4 of which were in Jelka. By 1902, there were already 7 of them in Jelka, named after their owners. Némethov mlyn, which was the first in order from upstream, is currently open to the public. The first mention of it dates back to 1894.

In the past, mills served their economic function. However, the technical nature of the mills over time hindered progress in the milling process, and their location also impeded watercraft traffic. In 1885, the so-called Water Act was passed, on the basis of which all water mills that conflicted with police orders regarding navigation safety were abolished. This led to the aforementioned conversion of the mill into a stake mill. The reconstruction lasted from 1900, and the mill began milling again in 1906. Rye was mostly milled here, and according to the former owner's stories, farmers came to this mill from great distances to have their grain milled into flour or semolina. This continued until 1951, when the mill ceased operation.

The dominant feature of the mill is the wooden mill building. The technological equipment of the mill consists of three systems. The drive system is formed by a paddle water wheel with bottom drive. The transmission system consists of a main gear wheel and another pair of wheels, with a conical pinion transferring the rotational movement. The third system, the working or milling system, is formed by the entire technology, in which every detail fit together precisely to ensure the flawless operation of the mill.

You can reach the mill via a dirt field road heading from Jelka towards Dunajská Streda. When you arrive, be sure to visit the open-air museum located nearby as well. It will introduce you to the agricultural past of the village of Jelka. Naturally, refreshment options near the mill are also available. Anyone wishing to camp or anchor a boat is also in the right place.

Water mills belong to an interesting part of history, especially in the southern regions of our country. Book accommodation near Vodný mlyn v Jelke, for example on the page accommodation Jelka or accommodation in district Galanta, and set off on the footsteps of our ancestors. It was not so long ago that the mills were still operating regularly. Perhaps during your trip, you will run into locals who remember stories from this era passed down by their grandparents.

In the beautiful environment of a floodplain forest, only 2 km from the village of Tomášikovo, in Southern Slovakia, you will find an architectural gem, Vodný kolový mlyn. In 1893, it was built by the miller János Maticza and has been preserved in its original state to this day. It is located at the confluence of the Malý Dunaj and Suchý potok. Tomášikovský vodný mlyn is an external exhibition of the Vlastivedné múzeum v Galante.

The wooden millhouse building features a shingle roof and a large paddle driving wheel with a diameter of 7 meters. Its structure stands on original acacia stilts. Inside, you will find an original interior with photographs as well as an authentic miller's room with a wooden plank bed, a slit window, and a small table. The interior also houses milling tools and sacks in which ground flour and grain were stored.

The mill ground flour for a respectable 67 years, almost 20 hours every day. An interesting fact is that in 1940 a dynamo was installed in it, and thanks to this, it also operated on electric drive. Did you know that it is one of the few preserved watermills in Slovakia with operational mill machinery?

In 1982, it was restored and today serves as a technical monument of folk milling in Southern Slovakia. You can reach it from the bank via a wooden footbridge. Located near it is a popular paddlers' campsite.

After this pleasant excursion, you can stay on the bank, lay out a blanket, pull out a picnic basket full of treats, and enjoy precious moments with your family. At the end of the day, check in with good people right in the village. Beautiful accommodation near Vodný mlyn Tomášikovo can be found on the page accommodation in Tomášikovo. During your stay, you can make trips to the surrounding area and discover other interesting attractions of the Podunajská nížina lowland, of which there are plenty.