A venerable stone mill - Aumüli
Overview
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Hint
Intro
Aumüli is located in the Knonaueramt region of Canton Zurich on a delightful section of the River Reppisch. This imposing historic building provides insights into the traditional miller's trade.
Nestling in the idyllic Reppischtal, the mill has an intriguing centuries-old history. The earliest recorded mention of a mill here dates from 1328, though it has changed over the years: the miller's house we see now – the oldest building in the ensemble – was erected in 1766. In the face of growing competition and as local textile homeworkers drifted away to the city of Zurich in the nineteenth century, the mill’s importance declined. The focus then shifted mainly to agriculture, cattle farming and horse-breeding. The waterwheel remained in operation into the 1950s as a source of power for a sawmill.
Charmingly set in the fork of a road and crossed by an open water channel, the compact mill ensemble comprises the amply proportioned miller’s house, a large storage/animal barn and an outbuilding, and is fronted by a well-tended farm garden. The listed mill-wheel and an open sawmill extension are located by the house's western front. To the east of this is a massive stable block. The half-timbered building to the north has variously served as a coach house, forge, wine-press house, distillery and wash-house.
Trip tip
Verein Aumüli and Stiftung Aumüli, which began refurbishing the mill on a voluntary basis in 1998, offer guided tours on request. At the annual "Mülitag" open day, you can get an insight into local traditions and experience the miller's trade at first hand. The nearby lake, the Türlersee, can be reached in one hour on foot.
ISOS
ISOS is the Federal Inventory of Swiss Heritage Sites of national importance. The inventory is maintained by the Federal Office of Culture (FOC) and lists the most significant settlements in Switzerland. Today, some 1,200 places are included in the inventory, from hamlets right through to cities. The inventory provides information on the development and identity of the settlements listed in it, thereby contributing to the preservation of architectural diversity in Switzerland and promoting both sustainable planning and a high-quality Baukultur.
