HORNÉ Orešany in the Small Carpathians is known as a locale that makes quality wine. It is less known that there were several grain mills in this municipality and historical records indicate that Orešany residents constructed the first mills on the Parná River in the 17th century. But it is possible that they existed even earlier.
Grain milling was hard work and was not always profitable so the mills changed owners quite often.
Five or even six mills operated at the same time in Orešany so it is no wonder that in 1668 a millers’ guild was established in the town. About 15 teamsters were also involved in the local flour trade, transporting wheat from Sereď and Trnava to be milled in Orešany. From there, the flour was distributed to Bratislava, Nitra, or even beyond the Carpathians to Moravia.
This postcard shows one of the flour mills that also worked as a sawmill. The image comes from before 1896 and is the oldest postcard published so far in History Talks.
