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Only a few of the ancient mills have been preserved – but along Kalser Bach brook you can still find the historical water mills...

A wildly romantic Stock Mill at Kalser Bach © expa/gruber

Water–powered sources of energy have always been important for modern civilizations. To develop them requires excellent technical skills and talent. How is it possible to use water power for producing energy and electricity? The secret can be explained only by taking a closer look at wheels, shafts and cranks steered by the ups and downs of the permanently moving waters.

The ancient stock mills have all these special features, but in fact they function in a quite easy way. Stock mills have work according to two principles: a horizontal water wheel is fixed to a vertical shaft. The rotating shaft is connected to the mill stone which is located in the mill house. The two components work against each other – and that's the whole secret!

Jets of rushing water hit the horizontal water wheel... © expa/gruber

The only problem is that principle works only with quickly flowing waters, providing enough pressure on the water wheel. No wonder that the ancient mills can be found only in vicinity to bigger Alpine mountain brooks and rivers. During dry summer months the energy supply was not guaranteed in Osttirol (for example in 1799). Therefore most villages preferred the more complicated but also more efficient wheel mills

Scenic Kalser Bach brook ranked among the few regions where the old stock mills have survived, as they were owned by local farming families and in operation until the middle of the last century. Some culture enthusiasts were able to maintain these remains of the past.

Six stock mills can still be found amid picture-book landscapes of awesome natural beauty. You are strongly recommended to take a closer look at the show mills where corn was milled. Listen to interesting stories of times long past and discover one of Osttirol's truly unique culture treasures. Enjoy a leisurely walking tour along the mill trail!

Contact

TVB Osttirol/Infobüro Kals am Großglockner
Kals am Großglockner
Ködnitz 7
9981 Kals am Großglockner, Austria
Tel: +43.50.212.540
fax: +43.50.212.540-2
kals@osttirol.com
www.osttirol.com