Saaremaa Local Customs

Saaremaa Mills

by remigia

For years almost every village in Saaremaa had it's own mill. Some of them even few- in a small village like Angla most of farms had their own mill. Now you can see 5 of them here- 4 Saaremaa mills and 1 Dutch. In most countries Dutch style mills are built- the body is stable and only the upper part with wings can be moved according to wind direction. There are also this style mills in Saaremaa but only a few. Most of mills are local style. Saaremaa mills are much smaller then Dutch ones. They look rather like bird houses placed on heap of rocks. and the main difference is that it's not the upper part with wings is mobile but all the building can be turned when the wind changes. Most of Saaremaa mills are just a decoration to landscape now. But one of then Eemu mill in Muhu is working and opened for tourists.