Macháčkův mlýn

Macháčkův mlýn is a former water mill standing on the Chrudimka river in the village of Nemošice, part of the town of Pardubice. It is an easy place to drive past without noticing — yet the site carries more than seven centuries of settlement history along the riverbank.

Where does the mill's name come from?

The building is named after one of its owners, Václav Macháček, who held the mill between 1930 and 1936. The name he gave it stuck, even though the site's story reaches far beyond his brief ownership.

How old is the site?

The earliest trace of settlement here dates to 1318, when Vilém, known as Holec, of Nemošice held a fortified seat (tvrz) in the village and owned land that included a mill. The mill itself is first recorded by name in the 1494 land register (urbář) of the Pardubice–Kunětická Hora estate — the record usually cited as the first firm evidence of a working mill on this spot.

Who owned the mill over the centuries?

Ownership passed through several hands over the following centuries. Recorded owners include Matěj Skočdopole from 1651, the Růžička couple from 1733, Jiří Kromer from 1782, and Antonín Kučera from 1839. After Václav Macháček, whose name the mill still carries, the property passed to Josef Tichý in 1939.

What rebuilding work has the mill gone through?

The mill was reconstructed several times. In 1904 the Pardubice firm J. Hübner & K. Opitz carried out building work on the site. The last major rebuild, which gave the mill its present form, took place in 1933, and in 1937 new milling technology was installed.

Is the mill still operating today?

The building is only partly adapted for use, a state recorded as of 2012. It no longer grinds grain; instead it now serves an energy-producing role, fitted with two Francis turbines with a combined output of 80 kW that generate electricity from the flow of the Chrudimka.

Is it a protected monument, and can visitors go inside?

Macháčkův mlýn does not hold official cultural heritage protection status. It remains in private hands and is not open to the public — it can be viewed from the outside while walking along the Chrudimka, but there is no public access to the interior.

What should you know before visiting?

The mill sits in Nemošice, a quiet part of Pardubice away from the bustle of the city centre. It suits walkers or cyclists following the Chrudimka who have an interest in local milling history, rather than visitors expecting a developed tourist attraction.

Frequently asked questions

Where does the name Macháčkův mlýn come from? From Václav Macháček, who owned the mill between 1930 and 1936.

When was the mill first mentioned? Land including a mill belonged to Vilém of Nemošice as early as 1318, but the mill itself first appears by name in the 1494 estate land register.

Does the mill still grind grain? No — today the building operates as a small hydroelectric plant with two 80 kW Francis turbines.

Can visitors go inside the mill? No, the building is privately owned and not open to the public.

Is Macháčkův mlýn a listed monument? No, it does not hold official cultural heritage protection status.