Description of the attraction
The Great Mill is a water mill located in the northern part of the Old Town of Gdansk. It is one of the largest agricultural buildings of the Middle Ages.
The mill was built by the knight-monks of the Teutonic Order in 1350. Among the many industrial buildings of the time, the mill was considered one of the largest in Europe. In 1391 it was damaged in a fire. In February 1454, the Prussian Union began an uprising against the Teutonic Order with the support of the Polish king Casimir IV. As a result, the Order lost control of West Prussia, and the lands (along with the mill) were transferred to the Kingdom of Poland.
In 1836, the mill was modernized: 12 water wheels were replaced by 18, and a turbine was installed. The mill was used for its intended purpose until the end of World War II, during which it was partially destroyed. A warehouse and a bakery functioned in the mill building. After the war, the mill was restored, until 1991 it worked for its intended purpose. In 1993, the mill was converted into a modern shopping center, inside of which you can still see the former wheels of the mill.
