The Days of Folk Architecture opened at Malá Skála and the Vacard Mill

Malá Skála (Jablonecko) - The Days of Folk Architecture have opened tourist access to normally inaccessible monuments in the Liberec region. For example, in Malá Skála, visitors can explore not only Bouček's farm with a gallery, but also the almost unknown and significantly older Vacard's water mill with a saw. The first mentions of it were found as early as the beginning of the 18th century, but the mill was already standing by then, said Šárka Bredlerová today to ČTK, who lives in the timber house with her husband and five children.
Not a trace remains of the original technical equipment of the mill or the later-built saw. "We have a few millstones here, we have some hooks and various holes in the wall, which experienced millers know what they were used for. However, the inventory did not survive because it was wooden," the owner explained. The local mill was a rarity because it was powered by water from a nearby pond, which was directed above the mill wheel by wooden troughs placed on sandstone pillars above the road. The mill wheel itself had a diameter of nine meters.
When the Bredlers moved into the mill a few years ago, it was in a deplorable state and needed reconstruction. The rafters and roofs are new, as are, for example, the tiled stoves with ovens. "There is still a lot of work to be done here; it may not be very visible, but we are gradually working on it," Bredlerová said. The house is adapted for the life of a large family, and there are animals and a garden where the owner grows herbs and vegetables for home consumption. "We don't want to turn this into a museum; we enjoy living here," she added.
Vacard's mill is far from the only monument that people can visit as part of the Days of Folk Architecture until Sunday. The center of the event is the route along the Jizera from Turnov to Semily, where specialized interpretations and interesting accompanying programs will be prepared for visitors at the accessible monuments of folk architecture. For tourists, for example, Bičík's farm in Příšovice or Kopic's farm in Kacanovy will be opened. The route through the folk buildings can be walked on foot, but it can also be completed by car, bicycle, or scooter, or even navigated down the Jizera by boat.