Priory Mill, Renaissance mill building in Malá Strana, Czech Republic.
Priory Mill stands on Kampa Island along the Devil's Stream and is a Renaissance structure that later received Neo-Gothic additions in the 19th century. The building features a large wooden wheel that rotates in the water and demonstrates traditional milling mechanics.
The mill was founded by the Knights of St John under King Vladislav I, when the Malá Strana commandery and the Church of Our Lady beneath the Chain were established. After the Hussite wars, later owners took part in rebuilding it, and in 1598 it was reconstructed in its present Renaissance form. Under Emperor Joseph II the Grand Prior of the Knights of Malta lost his right to it; the Malá Strana municipality and then private owners held it. A flood damaged it in 1890 and a large fire in 1938, after which the City of Prague paid for extensive repairs.
The mill complex belongs to the Knights of Malta and shows how religious communities in Prague used water sources for their needs. The buildings tell the story of how spiritual life and craft production were closely linked in medieval times.
The mill is located on Kampa Island near the metro stations Malostranská and Staroměstská, both within walking distance. The area is well-supplied with cafes and restaurants, making it easy to find refreshment before or after a visit.
The wooden wheel of the mill actually rotates in the Devil's Stream and shows how medieval water power functioned. This constantly moving wheel is one of the few remaining examples of an active water mill in Prague's old town.
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