The Mill with Six Waterwheels from Găleșoaia, Gorj County

Brought to the museum in 1972, this mill was built in the second half of the 19th century on the Tismana River. The strong water flow allowed the installation of six waterwheels, each driving a millstone. To protect it from frequent flooding, the structure was raised on 12 massive piles, approximately 5 meters above the water.

The building, made of oak beams with a shingle roof, houses all six installations in a single room. Near the entrance is the miller’s shelter, also built on piles, a small space used as a refuge during work. Access to the riverbank was provided by a beam footbridge approximately 25 meters long.

The water was dammed into a small pond and directed through separate wooden channels to each waterwheel, each channel being equipped with a lifting mechanism to interrupt the water supply. The mill operated under a shared ownership system, with over 40 owners who divided their milling rights by days and hours.