Balkhauser Kotten

The Balkhauser Kotten is one of two largely original preserved grinding mills on the Wupper River in the Bergisch city of Solingen. The mill is used as an industrial and grinding museum and is one of the city's most well-known landmarks.

The Balkhauser Kotten is located at the foot of the Pfaffenberg in southern Solingen, at the city border created by the Wupper River towards Leichlingen. It is named after the nearby settlement of Balkhausen. A supply ditch branches off from a weir and supplied water to the undershot waterwheel, the power of which was converted into mechanical drive for grinding stones and polishing discs. The ditch system, waterwheel, and mechanical installations have been preserved to this day and can be visited along with other themed exhibits. The mill is owned by the city of Solingen, managed by the Balkhauser Kotten Foundation, and is rented to a resident family who facilitates access to the exhibits as custodians.

Wikipedia