Haaner mills and cottages

In the Itter valley, several centuries ago, a large industrial sector was settled, which used the water power of the river as an energy source. For centuries, blades were produced using water power for swords, knives, and scissors, as well as grains were ground. The Itter drove the waterwheels of the grinding cottages or the mill wheels of the mills. These businesses were not only settled in the Haan area along the Itter, but also along other rivers in the Bergisches Land.

In the Haan city area, there were a total of four cottages and three mills along the Itter. In addition, there were other mills and cottages that had chosen their location along other streams in the Haan city area. When electricity later replaced water power, the businesses were no longer dependent on a location directly along a river and relocated. Today, there are no more cottages and mills along the Itter and the other streams in Haan that are used for their original purpose. Also, not all buildings are still preserved. The former business sites that have remained are partly protected as monuments and are privately owned. They are used as residential buildings or operated as restaurants.

This hiking route takes you along the still existing buildings of the former mills and cottages. The beautiful surroundings today hardly give any indication that the river courses were industrially used in earlier times.

For more information on the industrial use of the Itter, the Haan mills, and cottages, visit the website of the city of Haan.