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Corn-grinding
mills along mountain riverbanks have been around for ages.
The building technique is the same since thousand years
ago. In fact, the present water mills were built in the
same place and by the same process as the previous ones.
They are used in producing maize flour. The water mill was
initially made entirely of wood, and only later the metal
wheels were to be applied. Most important is the fact that
the wheels bearing system is always of white marble. The
local produced flour has a beyond compare taste. The maize
grain is crushed in a slow motion movement, if compared
to modern electrical mills, but the locals insist about
the fact that 'the grains are not burnt, and that's why
is the best world's flour'.
In the beginning, a water mill was the property of 16
to 20 families of the same village, responsible with its
building and preservation. Based on this gentlemen agreement,
every family was entitled to use the water mill several
hours a week. When one of the family's children was leaving
his parents' house to form his own family, his father decided
if he was to inherit or not a certain amount of hours for
using the water mill.One day every month the mill is scheduled
for maintenance; every family who uses the mill has to
send someone for the job, otherwise they lose their turn.
The mill stones are made by stone masons and have to be
periodically "gated" (an elaborate operation done
by highly specialized people). |
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