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Old Mill in Drnis Town — Dernis
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Historical Sites 📍 Dernis, Croatia 413 views

Old Mill in Drnis Town

Old Mill is situated on the right riverbank of Čikola, approximately 150 meters downstream from the Čikola bridge, at the entrance to the town of Drniš. According to historical sources, it was built in the Middle Ages, and it was probably initially owned by Croatian noble familie...

Old Mill in Drnis Town — Dernis, Croatia.

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Dernis
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About Old Mill in Drnis Town

Old Mill in Drnis Town - Dernis | Secret World Trip Planner

Old Mill is situated on the right riverbank of Čikola, approximately 150 meters downstream from the Čikola bridge, at the entrance to the town of Drniš. According to historical sources, it was built in the Middle Ages, and it was probably initially owned by Croatian noble families. By its wheel orientation, the mill can be classified as a horizontal wheel mill with paddles. This type is also known as the Greek mill since it was invented in ancient Greece and Norse mill as it remained longest in use in Scandinavia. Such mills were built in places with limited water supplies caused by seasonal changes of watercourse. The watermill is built of stone. The foundation wall alongside the riverbed is constructed from larger stone blocks in order to ensure the structure's stability, while the remaining walls are built from smaller cut stones. The ground-floor walls are 70 cm thick, and the first-floor walls are 65 cm thick. The mill's west wall is leaning against a cliff. The gable roof was originally covered with stone slates and later with terracotta tiles. The first floor most probably served as living space for the miller. The communication between the two floors is provided by a wooden staircase. The doors on the first floor were used to access the sluice. The Old Mill had four millstones. Over each millstone there were wooden hoppers in the shape of an inverted pyramid, into which grain was poured. The water used to power the mill came through the main race called headrace, from where it was directed through tailraces to wheel turbines. Due to its age, building quality, position and environmental value, the Old Mill has been designated as a cultural heritage.

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Frequently Asked Questions

The Old Mill is situated on the right riverbank of the Čikola River, approximately 150 meters downstream from the Čikola bridge at the entrance to Drniš town. This riverside location was strategically chosen to harness the river's power for milling operations.
According to historical sources, the Old Mill was built during the Middle Ages and was probably initially owned by Croatian noble families. Its long history and architectural significance have led to its designation as a cultural heritage site.
The Old Mill is a horizontal wheel mill with paddles, also known as a Greek or Norse mill, which was designed for areas with limited water supplies due to seasonal changes. Water flows through a headrace and is directed via tailraces to wheel turbines that power the four millstones housed inside.
The mill is constructed entirely of stone with foundation walls made from larger blocks for stability and remaining walls built from smaller cut stones, featuring walls 70 cm thick on the ground floor and 65 cm on the first floor. The structure originally had a gable roof covered with stone slates, later replaced with terracotta tiles, and the west wall leans against a natural cliff.
Inside the mill, visitors can observe the four millstones with their distinctive pyramid-shaped wooden hoppers used for pouring grain, as well as the wooden staircase connecting the ground floor milling operation to the first floor, which likely served as the miller's living quarters. The structure also features original doors that provided access to the sluice system controlling water flow.

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