The Rideļi Mill is a place that doesn’t cease to surprise you. This is where age-old traditions are intertwined with the modern day life. The old Rideļi Mill with the water wheel and mill stones embodies the lives and work of dynasties. Mill Lake of 37 ha offers boat rides to the vacationers. And the pancakes… pancakes… pancakes at the café Cope, and so much more to enjoy. A prosperous household, made rich by the work of a man.
History
The Rideļi Mill has stood here for many years now. In 1863, Lake Engure was connected to the sea bay and the water level in the lake lowered by about 2 metres. Then the Count Landsdorf built this mill. The river Kalnupe, which flows into Lake Engure, flows through the mill. Back in the day, all the mill machinery was driven by a waterwheel. The mill was equipped with wool combing, yarn spinning, and grain milling machines.
During the First World War, the mill burnt down. After the manor land reform, the mill walls and lake was bought from the state by Donāts Kambala – the grandfather of the current owner Oskars Kambala. The mill was renovated in 1924, and a turbine and generator was installed instead of the waterwheel. The historic waterwheel with a grain milling machine has been renovated and is set up as a museum exhibit.
In 1949, the owners were dislodged from the mill and in 1971 the mill, being the property of a collective farm, burnt down. The family recovered the property in ruins, while the area around it was polluted and littered. The mill was renovated and in 1996, the milling went on around the clock, processing 3.5 tonnes of grain each day. In 2002, the mill was included in the European Industrial Cultural Heritage.
Today, the mill is not used for mass grain processing, but the owners are always willing to demonstrate how various types of milling can be achieved from grain.
www.rideludzirnavas.lv