Windmill in Starý Poddvorov

The windmill in Starý Poddvorov is an all-wood, German-type post windmill standing on a hilltop about three kilometres from the village, on the way toward Čejkovice. It's one of the few surviving examples in southern Moravia of a windmill whose entire upper body could be turned so the sails always faced the wind — the defining feature of a post mill.

How old is the windmill and where did it come from?

The mill was built in 1870, entirely out of wood. Like several other wind-powered mills once scattered across the Podluží plain, this one didn't stand from the start on its present hill — it was relocated and rebuilt more than once before ending up near Starý Poddvorov. A storm damaged the structure in 1890, after which it was repaired and put back into service. Milling continued until 1941, and the mill briefly resumed operation after the war, working until 1949.

What made the design work?

A post mill like this one is built around a single massive vertical post, on which the whole wooden body — the milling machinery, the frame, and the sails — is mounted and can rotate. That let the miller turn the entire structure to face whichever way the wind was blowing, a necessity on the open, weather-exposed hills of Podluží where wind direction changes often.

What's the view like from the hill?

The hilltop site was chosen for a reason: from up there the landscape opens out toward the Bukovany (Buchlov) hills and, to the east, across the fertile Podluží plain to the foothills of the White Carpathians. The surrounding slopes are covered in vineyards and orchards typical of this part of Slovácko, one of Moravia's best-known wine regions.

Can visitors go inside?

Yes. The windmill is a protected monument — it was declared a national cultural monument in 1993, shortly after the Velvet Revolution, and underwent a thorough restoration in 2003. Today it opens seasonally, mainly from July to September, with interior visits typically available on weekends. During the season the mill is sometimes lit up for evening viewings after dark. Current opening details are handled by the Starý Poddvorov municipal office.

Why does this particular mill stand out?

Post windmills like this one used to dot the hills of southern Moravia, but most disappeared over time, torn down or lost to weather and neglect. The windmill in Starý Poddvorov is one of the few of its kind still standing in the Hodonín district, making it a rare physical record of the wind-powered grain milling that once supported rural life across the Podluží region.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is the windmill located? On a hilltop about three kilometres from Starý Poddvorov, in the direction of Čejkovice, in the Hodonín district of the South Moravian Region.

When was it built? It was built in 1870, entirely of wood.

How long did it operate as a working mill? It milled grain until 1941 and briefly resumed after the war, operating until 1949.

Is it a protected monument? Yes — it has been a national cultural monument since 1993 and was thoroughly restored in 2003.

When can you visit the interior? Seasonally, mainly from July to September, usually on weekends, and sometimes in the evening when the mill is illuminated.

What can you see from the mill? The Bukovany (Buchlov) hills and, to the east, the Podluží plain stretching toward the foothills of the White Carpathians.