Balkhauser Kotten, Industrial heritage museum in Solingen, Germany.
Balkhauser Kotten is a grinding mill on the Wupper River that still shows how the craft worked long ago. The building preserves the machines and equipment that craftspeople used centuries ago to sharpen tools.
The mill arose to use the river's grinding power, which made Solingen a center for knife making. Over time it remained an important workshop until it was eventually turned into a museum to preserve its story.
The place tells of the grinding craft tradition along the river that has been part of daily life in Solingen for generations. Visitors can see directly how this work shaped the region and what skills people passed down over time.
Access is easy to find since the mill sits directly on the river and is well-connected from town. Wearing comfortable shoes is wise, as some parts of the grounds may be uneven and the interior is tight with historical machines.
The original waterwheel was made of oak wood and was later transformed into an elaborate knife collection that connects craft and raw material. This approach shows how the place uses every trace of its past to tell its story.
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