The romance of the past is tangible at the world's only International Mill Museum in Gifhorn. There are 15 authentic mills from Germany and all over the world in its 100,000 m² grounds.

Where the wind drives the sails
This international museum of windmills and watermills on the banks of the river Ise in Gifhorn opened to the public in 1980. Its array of mills is truly international, ranging from a replica of the traditional galleried Dutch windmill in the grounds of Sanssouci Palace to a Korean watermill. Mills from all corners of the world, including what is probably the biggest horse treadmill in Germany, mills from Ukraine, Greece, France and Spain and a Russian trestle windmill from the Archangel area can be seen at this remarkable open-air museum which is located in a beautiful lakeland setting. Its well-designed grounds provide a habitat for local wildlife.

The centrepiece of the open-air museum is an 800 m² exhibition hall where models of famous mills are displayed. They may be smaller than the originals, but the 45 miniature windmills and watermills on display here are no less impressive. The famous Moulin de la Galette from Montmartre in Paris can be seen alongside the mill from La Mancha in Spain, whose sails Don Quixote tilted at in vain. The village square with a bakery, miller's house and the "Trachtenhaus" restaurant forms the centre of the museum.
» www.muehlenmuseum.de

A selection of other mill museums in Germany.