Tucked away in the valley of the Wild Weißeritz river between Rehefeld and Seyde, the Herklotzmühle is a real find for anyone curious about old crafts and traditional machinery. This historic sawmill still runs the way it did centuries ago, offering a rare glimpse into pre-industrial woodworking.

The valley itself is a peaceful, scenic spot along the fast-flowing Wild Weißeritz, lovely in every season - lush and green in summer, colourful in autumn, and quiet and frosty in winter when the water wheel keeps turning despite the cold. It's an easy, relaxing walk that combines nature with a bit of local history. The mill first appears on maps from between 1586 and 1607, though evidence suggests it may have existed as early as 1446.

How to get there

• Rehefeld or Seyde - trail along the Wild Weißeritz valley, easy walk, approx. 30-45 minutes
• Parking nearby, then a short walk along the river valley to reach the mill

Practical information

• The museum is run by the Förderverein Herklotzmühle e.V. association
• Since 2007, the original gear-driven mechanism has been working again
• A reconstructed larch-wood water wheel was installed in June 2017
• Fully functional sawing and wheelwright machinery driven by transmission belts can be seen in operation
• Since 2015 the museum also displays a restored combined bandsaw with planer and jointer

The sawmill was in active use until 1992, and today, thanks to dedicated local volunteers, visitors can watch the historic machinery come to life just as it did generations ago.