MILLS
Milling is one of the oldest trades. Mills were already known to the Romans, who brought the invention from Asia Minor. Depending on the energy used to power them, we distinguish between water, floating, and windmills. On the Bistrica and its tributaries, we are only talking about water mills.
As recently as 1972, 14 mills were recorded along the Bistrica River and its tributaries; today, only the Kukovičič and Levstik mills are still in operation. As a rule, mills are detached buildings, i.e. true craft workshops, and were not used as homes. Some of them continued into residential buildings. There were no large mills along the Bistrica River, because there is not enough water power to drive up to 8 water wheels. Only medium-sized mills with four water wheels and small mills with one water wheel were set up here. The latter were mainly domestic mills, covering the needs of the household.
Mills once standing along the Bistrica River and its tributaries:
Križnik (upper), Kranjec, Križnik (lower), Romih, Senicatov, Kranjec, Zalokar, Jazbec, Ferlič, Černak, Lah (Kastelan), Šumi, Maček, Krofl, Žibert, Jereb, Kukovičič, Levstik, Kostanjšek, Lesjak, Živič, Lap, Kunej (Mlinar), Markec, Štogler and, just before the mouth of the Sotla, Rakovec Mill.
Only Kastelan and Levstik mills are considered to have been castle mills according to folklore.
Kukovičič Mill, Podsreda
Known as the Sotošek homestead (Janez, Ana Sotošek) until the 1930s. The house with the mill is a brick building with a longitudinal floor plan, set with a longer façade along the Bistrica riverbed. The mill is designed for two types of flour, with 2 mill wheels and a special entrance on the side façade. In 1935, Anton Kukovičič married into the Sotošek family from Veliki kamen. He was a blacksmith by trade and learned the milling trade from a hired miller who worked all day. Of the seven children, Anton Jr. remained at the homestead.
More information at: http://www.mlin-kukovicic.si/
