Watermills

More gullies and exciting geology can be discovered on the so-called GeoRafting. Along the Salza you can impressively discover the rocks, gorges, the power of the water and much more: www.eisenwurzen.com/mein-natur-und-geopark/georafting/

„Real” water mills can still be found today in the Gamsforst district:

The first of the three water mills in Gamsforst was built in the 19th century by the local farmers Gorner, Stöger and Pretschuh. The second and middle mill belongs to the farms Hochbichler and Kendlbauer, the lowest to Forstjäger and Fluch. All these vulgo names of the farms still exist today.

For a few years after the Second World War, the mill stream still drove the water wheels, which were lovingly produced. Well into the second half of the 20th century, grain was cultivated in the region at almost 1,000 metres above sea level, milled and eventually came onto the table as strong, black farmhouse bread.

With the onset of modernisation, however, the mills became obsolete and the ravages of time began to gnaw away at the abandoned wooden buildings. In 1977, the municipality, with the support of the owners, undertook a first rescue operation by renewing the roofs.

The “Steirische Eisenwurzen Nature and Geopark” thus preserves a very remarkable piece of farming history. The outdoor area can be visited at any time. Information is available from the GeoWerkstatt.