Untere Papiermühle, Historic paper mill in Treuchtlingen, Germany
The Untere Papiermühle is a two-story building with a gable roof positioned where the Schambach Valley and Altmühltal meet, just east of Treuchtlingen. The structure takes advantage of the water from both valleys to power the papermaking machinery.
A French Huguenot named Jacob Christoph Quinat acquired the mill in 1749 and built the current structure between 1764 and 1765. The mill remained in operation under his family until 1786, shaping the region's papermaking for several decades.
The building displays Saint George's coat of arms with Quinat's initials as a mark of ownership and pride. Papers made here bore his 'IC Q' watermark, making the origin and craftsmanship visible to every buyer.
The site sits at 422 meters (1,385 feet) elevation in a scenic location between two valleys. Visitors should note that the area is easily accessible, though sturdy footwear is recommended for the rolling terrain around the mill.
The mill required roughly 500 hundredweights of rags annually to produce paper, supplied by local merchants from the surrounding area. A rag trader from the nearby town of Möhren regularly provided materials, demonstrating how tightly connected the region's supply networks were.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
