Dornmühle

Dornmühle is a ruined gristmill in Fränkisch-Crumbach in the Odenwald, with a ground floor built from stone masonry. Window niches and a vaulted cellar remain visible, while traces of the half-timbered upper structure can still be seen.

A water-powered mill stood here from 1475, grinding grain for the region until operations ceased in 1952. Between 1962 and 1968 the building burned down, leaving the present remains.

The name Dornmühle refers to the thorny vegetation that once surrounded the mill along the river. Today the remains recall a time when farmers from nearby villages brought their grain here and waited while it was ground.

The ruin lies along the Wassererlebnisband Gersprenz cycling path and makes a good rest stop during a ride through the Gersprenz valley. Access is open, and the stone walls offer a sense of the former construction.

In 1686 the mill became involved in a legal dispute over maintenance of a nearby bridge. After 1818 it lost its status as a compulsory mill, which changed its economic role in the valley.

Location: Fränkisch-Crumbach

GPS coordinates: 49.76353,8.87361

Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:29