(source: Marcela Ballová)
Something rare stands in the village of Predajná, central Slovakia, bringing back stories about an old craft that used to be passed down from father to son.
After many years in disrepair, the mill in Predajná, which many years ago milled for rich and poor alike, was finally completely preserved, together with its unique technological equipment.
Today, not just its owner enjoys the view of unique items. Ondrej Čipka, whose grandfather and great-grandfather were millers, decided to make one of the technological jewels in the Horehronie region available to the general public. And indeed, there is something to admire behind the doors of the massive building.
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"I had a nice childhood here, my brother and I played in the mill, we helped my grandfather. These are beautiful memories," says Ondrej, donning a white shirt, linen pants and the indispensable miller's cap.
"The mill is near and dear to my heart. I didn't want to let it fall into disrepair, so I decided to restore it. It cost me a lot of strength. There was no end to the paper work, project documentation was needed, as well as static and dendrological assessments," recalls Čipka.
The mill was declared a national monument on December 30, 2011.
However, the errands did not end there. In an effort to restore the roof of the historic building, which was in danger of collapsing, Ondrej Čipka applied for a subsidy from the Culture Ministry.
Finally, thanks to the contribution, he managed to reconstruct an important part of the mill that boasts unique equipment. Only in a few places in the country can you admire such a thing. The Banská Bystrica self-governing region also financially supported the mill, and uses it to attracts tourists as part of its Experience in the Region project.
Even a king spent a night in the mill
Visitors to one of central Slovakia's picturesque corners will find themselves at the place where King Sigismund of Luxemburg (1368 - 1437) once spent the night. And he wasn't paying for a night's stay, but something else.
"The mill used to grind day and night. The machines were clattering and so they turned them off so that the king could sleep. However, the miller did not ask for the night's rent, but for the lost profit," the current owner of the mill says.
Inside the mill it appears that time has stopped, giving it the right atmosphere.
Minor construction modifications were carried out in the 1960s, including a miller's house, the interior renovated, window panels replaced, openings rebuilt and adjusted.
Signs bearing the names of the equipment can be found near the machinery, together with QR codes. After scanning them, a visitor can read the text description and listen to the audio recording in Slovak, English or German.
The premises of the mill also serve as a camp, which is open to everyone.
©My Novohrad
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