Walzenmühle Hainsberg

Did the stones of Walzenmühle Hainsberg whisper secrets of flour dust and rushing water? Here we stand before Walzenmühle Hainsberg. It’s a transformed mill in Freital’s Coßmannsdorf district. Walzenmühle Hainsberg isn’t just any building. It’s a designated cultural and technical monument. The Rote Weißeritz flows nearby, joining the Wilde Weißeritz to form the Weißeritz River. A mill race, still largely preserved, once channeled water to power the mill. This mill race begins south near the Weißeritz-Park shopping center and rejoins the Rote Weißeritz at Hainsberger Straße. Over time, Walzenmühle Hainsberg has been known by several names. It was called Mittagsmühle, after its owner Johann Karl Christian Mittag. It was also called Somsdorfer Mühle and Coßmannsdorfer Mühle. Records mention Walzenmühle Hainsberg as early as the 15th century. In 1622, the Saxon elector expressed interest in acquiring the mill. The miller, however, resisted. A fire ravaged the mill in 1761, but it was rebuilt and operational again by 1762. The mill office dates back to 1784. The storage building was constructed in the 19th century. Around 1938, the owners modernized Walzenmühle Hainsberg, transforming it into one of Saxony’s most advanced milling facilities. Around 1970, during the GDR era, the mill was nationalized. It continued operating until 1992. Then, it stood empty, slated for demolition. Fortunately, a buyer emerged. They invested around 3.5 million euros in renovations. The building was converted into approximately 20 apartments. This transformation was completed by the end of 2012. A relief in the inner courtyard depicts scales. A Bible rests on one side, a millstone on the other. The Bible outweighs the millstone. This symbolizes the Bible’s greater importance.