A new water attraction for the River Drava.
In the Tranzit inland port in Osijek, somewhat hidden from the public view, a replica of a watermill is being constructed. When the construction is finished, which is expected in late September, it will undoubtedly become a new tourist attraction in the city on the Drava river.
We have visited the site where the mill is being constructed and talked with the members of the Watermill Association who are taking part in the construction of the watermill. The watermill is technically a very demanding project. The construction started in mid-March and is expected to be finished by the end of September.
To build the watermill, a special kind of larch has been commissioned, which the carpenters are cutting into very precise dimensions. Everything has to be protected from water, since a large part of the construction will be submerged in it. The watermill will include a little house with the millstone itself. However, the most attractive and visually the most recognizable feature will be the mill wheel. The hull is 16.5 x 15 metres, the mill house will occupy about 50 square metres, while the wheel will be an impressive six metres in diameter.
In total, 70 cubic meters of wood have been processed, dried and glued. That is a process which cannot be avoided or accelerated, if the goal is to create a real sense of antiquity. Inside the watermill there will be a millstone which will be able to grind the grain and which will serve to demonstrate to the visitors the grinding process as it was once used.
After the construction is completed, the watermill will be anchored at the 22nd kilometer of the Drava River. This traditional facility will once again be in the service of the economy, but this time with the goal of development of tourism. The whole project will cost 413,000 euros.
The construction process of the watermill which will soon become a new recognizable symbol of Osijek can be seen in the photo gallery by Osijek News.
