Dutch Windmill in Poradz

The windmill in Poradz stands on a rise outside the compact development of the village, right by voivodeship road no. 148 from Łobez to Starogard. It is a brick structure in the shape of a truncated cone, listed in the heritage register. The Wikipedia entry counts it among the best-preserved Dutch windmills in West Pomerania.

How the windmill is built

The body is about 14 metres high and about 10 metres in diameter. Inside are three working storeys and an attic. On the massive body sits a cap with four sails, fixed in a cast-iron head. The cap turns together with the sails, while the body remains stationary, and this is exactly what distinguishes a Dutch windmill from a post mill, in which the whole structure turns.

From its history

The heritage register dates the structure to the second half of the 19th century. The last miller before 1945 was Franz Naatz. After the war the windmill still worked for a short time, but with the development of modern mills and the retail network it lost its economic importance. It was entered in the heritage register in September 1979.

Condition and access

Since 1993 the windmill has been privately owned and has been adapted for residential use. The interiors are therefore not open to visitors, and the structure is viewed from the outside, from the road. In the area stand, among others, the church in Bełczna and Lake Karwowo.

Practical information

• Place: Poradz in Łobez municipality, by voivodeship road no. 148.
• The windmill is private, a visit to the interior is not planned; it is viewed from the outside.
• Details of access are best checked with the Łobez municipal office.