Museum Wassermühle Höfgen

About the museum

The water mill in Höfgen near Grimma was first mentioned in an electoral mill register in 1721, but is probably considerably older; pottery shards found in the storage cellar date back to the 16th century. In 1859 the Ruhmer family acquired the mill, a farm and an inn, and shaped the property for generations. Grain was milled here until 1954; afterwards the building faced decay.

In the 1960s, specialists and enthusiasts campaigned to save it, and in 1976 the mill opened as a technical showcase with a small museum display. With the installation of a working water wheel four years later, it became a magnet for visitors. Two devastating Mulde floods damaged the facility; after the flood of 2002, the Verein zur Erhaltung der Wassermühle Höfgen (association for the preservation of the Höfgen water mill) was founded, and it has looked after the mill since the damage was repaired in 2002–2004.

Today visitors can explore the mill technology, driven by an overshot water wheel fed by the Tannickenbach stream, from the wheel cellar to the flour loft. Also on view are the bakehouse with an old German stone oven, the first inn room, the storage cellar, and a miller's residence recreated around 1800 with three carved mill figures from 1704. Behind the house lies a small herb garden; the mill belongs to the "Grimmaer Mühlendreieck" (Grimma mill triangle) together with the Schiffmühle Höfgen and the Paltrockwindmühle Schkortitz.

Highlights

• Working mill technology with an overshot water wheel
• Miller's residence around 1800 with three mill figures from 1704
• Baking in the old German stone oven (in season usually on the first Saturday of the month)
• Hands-on project "Wer zuerst kommt, mahlt zuerst"
• Herb garden and circular trail to the Grimmaer Mühlendreieck

Permanent exhibition

• Technische Schauanlage Wassermühle – Working mill technology from the wheel cellar to the flour loft, along with the bakehouse, inn room, storage cellar and a miller's residence from around 1800.

Founded

1976

Operated by

Verein zur Erhaltung der Wassermühle Höfgen e. V.

Admission & discounts

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

No barrier-free access; after a telephone arrangement with the museum staff, an entry ramp can be set up for wheelchairs to the first floor (grinding room, bakery, inn room).

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations
• Playground / play area

Mill project for children's groups aged 6 and up, plant dyeing workshop (ages 7 and up) and open hands-on events during school holidays; there is an adventure playground at the neighboring inn.

Getting there & parking

On foot, you can reach the village center of Höfgen along the "Weg der Steine" by the Mulde, from the Hotel Schiffmühle toward the ferry. A circular route of about 7 kilometers connects the water mill with the Schiffmühle Höfgen and the Paltrockwindmühle Schkortitz.

Amenities & dining

• Restaurant

The neighboring historic inn "Zur Wassermühle" (Höfgener Dorfstraße 10) with beer garden is open on weekends.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit