“A windmill,” a child’s voice chirped, “but it doesn’t look like the one in my storybook!” The Pohlsche Windmühle indeed stands as a unique sentinel on Dresden’s landscape. Unlike the familiar Dutch windmills with their thatched roofs and expansive sails, the Pohlsche Windmühle rises as a sturdy tower. It’s a “Turmholländer” design, hinting at its German heritage.
The Pohlsche Windmühle wasn’t always a silent giant. In 1839, it sprung from an unlikely source: the Tiefen Elbstolln project. This ambitious tunnel, designed to drain water from nearby coal mines, produced tons of Pläner stone. Johann Gottlieb Pietzsch ingeniously used this excess stone to construct the Pohlsche Windmühle on the mound of the tunnel’s fifth air shaft. This ingenious repurposing gave the windmill a solid foundation, literally and figuratively. The rumble of mine carts once echoed beneath the whirring of the mill’s sails. Now, only the wind whispers tales of its industrious past.
Within the tower, two sets of millstones tirelessly ground grain into flour. The miller, a resourceful fellow, supplemented his income with a small tavern. The Pohlsche Windmühle wasn’t just a place for practical needs, it was also a social hub. In 1844, Friedrich Wilhelm Felgentreff, the new owner, further enhanced its appeal. He added a tavern next to the mill, expanding the space for merriment. Eventually, a dance hall also graced the grounds, transforming the Pohlsche Windmühle into a popular destination.
Imagine the lively scene: the rhythmic clatter of the millstones, the tang of freshly baked bread, the boisterous laughter spilling from the tavern, and the lilting melodies guiding dancers in the hall. During the blooming season and autumn harvests, the Pohlsche Windmühle became a magnet for people of all ages. A shady beer garden offered respite from the summer heat, where locals and travelers could savor the simple pleasures of beer, wine, and good company. The Pohlsche Windmühle was more than just a windmill; it was the heart of the community, a place where work and leisure intertwined.
The millstones fell silent in 1914. But the Pohlsche Windmühle refused to fade into obscurity. Extensive renovations have breathed new life into this Dresden landmark. Today, it stands as the only fully functioning restaurant-windmill in Saxony. Though its sails no longer catch the wind, the Pohlsche Windmühle still captures the spirit of its past. It invites you to step inside, savor the rustic ambiance, and imagine the echoes of laughter and industry that once filled its walls.