Aa-Mølle near Remmerstrand
Aa-Mølle is a 500-year-old listed watermill, considered one of the most interesting of its kind in Denmark. The mill has the only intact example of a Roman form of traction called Beighton Drive.
Largest contiguous natural area
Natura 2000 area no. 28 is, with its 33,165 ha, clearly the largest contiguous natural area in Geopark West Jutland. However, not the entire Natura 2000 area is included in the geopark, as Agger Tange, Agerø and parts of Skibsted Fjord lie outside the geopark's boundaries. Of the Natura 2000 area's habitat types, shallow fjord areas with extensive sandbanks, reefs and mudflats occur in Nissum Bredning and. The otter also forms part of the basis for the designation of the Natura 2000 area and is registered at Egebjerg Bæk, Hellerød Kær on the east side of Thyholm and at Gudum Å.
Water wheels and walking devices
Before 1939, the mill operated with an underfall wheel, which was changed to a “breastfall” and has now been changed to an overfall wheel – each of these designations refers to how the water hits the large water wheel. Aa-Mølle is very special, as one of the two water wheel running gear represents the old Roman form of traction (Beighton Drive) and Aa-Mølle is the only intact example in Northern Europe with this particular technique. The running gears pull several mills, a hoist and a flour sieve. None of them are probably the original ones. Thus, during a visit to Å-mølle, you will encounter different types of running gear and materials from different time periods.
Volunteers take over the mill
Aa-Mølle was privately owned until 1961, and the ownership is known all the way back to 1718. In 1961, the then owner and third-generation miller Hans Hedegaard sold the mill to the National Museum in order to save it, but continued to live in the house next door. In 1972, the Friends of Danish Mills took over Aa-Mølle, and to ensure local involvement, the Aa-Mølles Laug was established in 1999, and in 2013 was transformed into an independent association with the purpose: “as owner of the listed Aa-Mølle, to preserve and operate Aa-Mølle for posterity, as a historical monument and a cultural attraction, and to give the public access to the historic water mill.” On January 1, 2015, the Aa-Mølles Laug took over ownership of Aa-Mølle and has so far clearly met its objective with the help of local volunteers.
Relations to the geopark
The Aa-Møllefredningen, the watermill and the developed trail system, including up to Toftum Bjerge, and the many volunteers ensure that you get a wonderful cultural-historical, geological and biological geopark experience here.
Water wheels and walking devices
Before 1939, the mill operated with an underfall wheel, which was changed to a “breastfall” and has now been changed to an overfall wheel – each of these designations refers to how the water hits the large water wheel. Aa-Mølle is very special, as one of the two water wheel running gear represents the old Roman form of traction (Beighton Drive) and Aa-Mølle is the only intact example in Northern Europe with this particular technique. The running gears pull several mills, a hoist and a flour sieve. None of them are probably the original ones. Thus, during a visit to Å-mølle, you will encounter different types of running gear and materials from different time periods.
Volunteers take over the mill
Aa-Mølle was privately owned until 1961, and the ownership is known all the way back to 1718. In 1961, the then owner and third-generation miller Hans Hedegaard sold the mill to the National Museum in order to save it, but continued to live in the house next door. In 1972, the Friends of Danish Mills took over Aa-Mølle, and to ensure local involvement, the Aa-Mølles Laug was established in 1999, and in 2013 was transformed into an independent association with the purpose: “as owner of the listed Aa-Mølle, to preserve and operate Aa-Mølle for posterity, as a historical monument and a cultural attraction, and to give the public access to the historic water mill.” On January 1, 2015, the Aa-Mølles Laug took over ownership of Aa-Mølle and has so far clearly met its objective with the help of local volunteers.
Relations to the geopark
The Aa-Møllefredningen, the watermill and the developed trail system, including up to Toftum Bjerge, and the many volunteers ensure that you get a wonderful cultural-historical, geological and biological geopark experience here.