Dolský Mlýn

Dolský mlýn is a romantic ruined watermill standing at the heart of Bohemian Switzerland National Park, at the confluence of the Kamenice River and the Jetřichovická Bělá stream, within the municipality of Růžová in the Děčín district. Combining a striking gorge-side setting with centuries of history and a well-known film legacy, it remains one of the most visited spots in the whole park.

Where exactly is Dolský mlýn?

The ruins sit in a narrow, forested stretch of the Kamenice valley, roughly 1.5 km from the hamlet of Kamenická Stráň and about 3 km from the village of Jetřichovice. This part of the river is known as the Kamenice Gorges: downstream toward Hřensko lie, in order, the section called Ve Strži, the Wild Gorge (Divoká soutěska) and the Edmund Gorge (Edmundova soutěska), while upstream toward Srbská Kamenice stretches the Ferdinand Gorge (Ferdinandova soutěska). Small passenger boats have operated here since 1881, making Dolský mlýn a natural stopping point on the trail linking the gorges for well over a century.

How old is the mill?

The first written record of the mill dates from 1515, making it one of the older structures of its kind in the region. After the end of the Thirty Years' War it belonged to the Bynovec estate, and in 1696 it was purchased by the miller Jan Kryštof Pohl. The Pohl family remained its owners until 1910, running the mill for more than two centuries.

What was the mill used for?

Dolský mlýn was a three-wheeled watermill: two wheels drove the grinding machinery, while the third powered a sawmill, combining grain milling with the processing of timber floated down the valley. Grain was ground here until 1814, after which the operation was converted to produce spirits (kořalka).

Why is it a ruin today?

After 1945, following the postwar expulsion of the German-speaking population from the Sudetenland, the mill lost its longtime owners and fell out of use. Left abandoned, the building gradually deteriorated: today only rubble from the perimeter walls survives of the mill itself, while the other structures on the site are reduced to their foundations. Despite this ongoing decay, the ruins have been formally protected as a cultural monument.

Why is the mill famous on screen?

The mill's picturesque setting and distinctive silhouette have made it a recurring film location. Its best-known appearance came in 1952, when the ruins served as a backdrop for the classic Czech fairy tale "Pyšná princezna" ("The Proud Princess"), directed by Bořivoj Zeman and still one of the most beloved Czech fantasy films ever made. The site was used again in 2008 for the fairy tale "Peklo s princeznou" ("Hell with a Princess"), directed by Miloslav Šmídmajer.

What should visitors know before going?

Dolský mlýn is a favorite destination for hikers exploring Bohemian Switzerland as well as for cottage owners and residents of the surrounding villages. The walk connecting the ruins with the nearby gorges is one of the classic routes through the national park, letting visitors pair a look at the historic ruin with a boat trip through the sandstone canyons of the Kamenice.

Frequently asked questions

What is Dolský mlýn? It is the ruin of a former three-wheeled watermill dating back to the 16th century, standing at the confluence of the Kamenice River and the Jetřichovická Bělá stream in Bohemian Switzerland National Park.

When was the mill built and who owned it? The first record of the mill dates from 1515. From 1696 to 1910 it belonged to the Pohl family of millers, who took it over from the earlier owners of the Bynovec estate.

Why is the mill in ruins today? After 1945, the postwar expulsion of the German-speaking population left the mill without its owners, and the abandoned building gradually fell into disrepair.

Which films were shot at Dolský mlýn? The ruins appeared in the 1952 fairy tale "Pyšná princezna" and in the 2008 film "Peklo s princeznou."

How do you get to Dolský mlýn? The mill lies in the Kamenice valley, about 1.5 km from Kamenická Stráň and 3 km from Jetřichovice, on the trail connecting the nearby gorges within Bohemian Switzerland National Park.