Pudagla windmill

The Pudagla windmill, first mentioned in 1693, is a restored landmark of the region. Today, visitors can tour the fully functional mill in the hinterland of the Kaiserbäder and take part in regular mill action days, as well as eat fresh bread from the clay oven. The Pudagla windmill, first mentioned in 1693, is an outstanding testimony to the region's mill history. In 1779, master miller Jacob Schmidt bought the mill and all the land from his stepfather for 1000 thalers. The mill had a rye mill and a grist tamper. Until 1810, milling was compulsory, which meant that all farmers in the region had to have their grain milled in Pudagla. Grinding ceased in 1937, but the mill remained in the possession of the Schmidt family until 1986 and was used as a vacation home from the 1960s onwards. In 1996, the municipality of Pudagla took over the mill to save it from decay. After a long struggle for funding, the comprehensive restoration began in 1997. The mill was dismantled into its individual parts, inspected, numbered and restored by the mill construction company Möller in Westphalia. It returned to Pudagla in October 1997 and was ceremoniously reopened on October 25. Since 1998, the mill has been fully functional again thanks to a new grinding gear. Every year, 4 mill action days are held where visitors can experience the impressive mill technology in action. In 2000, a clay baking oven was built, which is also used for these events. The "Friends of the Pudagla windmill" association has been working to preserve the mill since 2001. The most recent renovation projects include the replacement of a pair of sails in 2023 after storm damage. The new mill barn was inaugurated in October 2024. This allowed us to expand the exhibition space and provide our visitors with better weather protection. In addition to daily opening hours from May to October, the association regularly offers project days for school classes and guided tours for groups The Pudagla trestle windmill is an important monument to pre-industrial mill technology and offers visitors fascinating insights into the milling trade of bygone times.