Annual Exhibition Highlights Traditional Craft: Mill Day Showcases Skilled Artisans and Ancient Techniques - Spotlight on Traditional Craftsmanship: Mill Day Highlights Time-honored Plant Practices
Spotlighting Old-World Craftsmanship: Mill Day Highlights Historical Mills
On Pentecost Monday, a time-honored tradition gets the limelight - Mills in the Rhineland and Westphalia throw open their doors for inspections during Mill Day. This commemorative day, marking its 32nd edition, honors a once common profession that harnesses the power of water and wind.
Initiated by the German Society for Mill Studies and Mill Preservation, Mill Day aims to champion the cultural heritage of mills. As announced by Rhine Landscape Authority (LVR) based in Cologne, "Many people still recall the mill in their hometown operating," shares Julia König, who oversees Mill Day at the LVR.
This action-packed day offers demonstrations, hikes, and bike tours in the Westphalia-Lippe Landscape Authority's domain, featuring attractions such as the LWL Open-Air Museums in Hagen and Detmold. Anticipating thousands of visitors, various locations in North Rhine-Westphalia will host a variety of activities tailored to their offerings.
Historically, North Rhine-Westphalia housed thousands of mills responsible for grain processing, oil production, bone crushing, timber sawing, paper production, and rag recycling. The Mill Region of Rhineland between the Erft, Wupper, and Sieg rivers will showcase mills, hammerworks, and water power plants. Among these historical relics, the Grottenhertener windmill in Bedburg (Rhein-Erft district) promises to whir into action, if wind conditions are favorable for operation.
LVR Announcement:
- Mill Day
- Open-Door Inspections
- Cultural Heritage
- Pentecost Monday
- Rhineland
- Westphalia
Enrichment Data:Even though there's no specific "Mill Day" event exclusive to the Rhineland and Westphalia regions, the broader event known as Deutscher Mühlentag (German Mill Day) showcases historic wind and water mills across Germany. Participating mills often include those that have been repurposed as museums to highlight their cultural and historical significance. Deutscher Mühlentag typically coincides with Pentecost Monday. Approximately 600 mills across Germany partake in this event, inviting visitors to explore these chronicles of the past. In Rhineland and Westphalia, participants can enjoy the experience by visiting historical mills in these areas, with local details to be confirmed from regional cultural or tourism boards.
As a side note, the Kabel Premium Pulp & Paper mill in Hagen, North Rhine-Westphalia, a significant industrial mill, is currently facing closure and is not directly related to the cultural mill events[3][4].
- To honor the cultural heritage of milling, various community policies regarding Mill Day will be established within North Rhine-Westphalia and Westphalia, providing vocational training sessions for visitors interested in preserving this historical practice.
- As part of the Mill Day celebration, visitors can engage in outdoor-living activities like hiking and biking, while also exploring home-and-garden exhibits showcasing traditional lifestyle practices linked to the milling industry.
