mlýn

Mlýn is the Czech word for a mill, a device that grinds grain and other materials into flour, meal, or powder. Traditional mills are powered by natural energy sources such as water or wind, though some were later driven by animals or steam.

The name derives from the verb mlít, to grind; mlýn is the noun form. The two most common types are vodní mlýn (water mill) and větrný mlýn (windmill). Water mills use a water wheel to convert the flow of a river or stream into rotational energy that drives one or more pairs of millstones. Windmills use rotating sails on a movable cap to achieve the same result. In addition to grain milling, some mills performed other tasks such as sawing wood or fulling cloth.

Historically, water mills appeared in Central Europe in the early Middle Ages and spread widely in the Czech lands by the high and late medieval period. They were commonly owned by villages, churches, or noble estates and formed an important part of local economies. Mills were typically situated along rivers or on elevated sites suitable for wind power, and they often included ancillary structures such as damming, sluices, and tailraces.

Today, many historic mills survive as cultural monuments or museums, and some remain in operation for demonstration, tourism, or niche commercial uses. The term mlýn also appears in numerous Czech place names, reflecting the long-standing presence of milling activity in the region.