Rastoke, Historical watermill settlement in Slunj, Croatia
Rastoke is a historic settlement located where the Slunjčica and Korana rivers converge, creating multiple waterfalls and water channels throughout the area. The community features traditional wooden buildings arranged along these waterways, with original mill structures still visible among the residential houses.
The settlement developed because the rivers provided excellent conditions for operating watermills, leading to its growth during the late 1800s. The decline of milling in the 20th century transformed the place, yet residents preserved the structures as evidence of their industrial heritage.
The mills served as gathering places where locals brought their grain to be processed, creating a shared rhythm to village life. This tradition of communal milling remains visible in how residents maintain and take pride in the historic watermill structures today.
The settlement is easy to explore on foot, with paved pathways connecting the houses and running along the water channels. Visit during warmer months when the walkways are dry and the waterfalls are flowing with water from the rivers.
Residents historically placed wooden barrels with holes, called košalo, into the rushing water to wash clothes in an ingenious way. This simple tool let people harness the river's natural power for cleaning their laundry without any machinery.
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