Herc sawmill
By the Mislinja River in Tomaška vas stands Herc sawmill, a former mill and sawmill, now beautifully preserved as a testimony to everyday life at the beginning of the 20th century. Once, between Tomaška vas and Šmartno, there were as many as eight mills harnessing the river’s power. Today, the museum lets you feel the pulse of that era — visits are possible from April to October, and guided tours are available by appointment.
Herc Sawmill – Where the River Tells a Story
In Tomaška vas near Slovenj Gradec, right by the Mislinja River, stands the beautifully preserved complex of Herčeva Sawmill and Mill – a unique example of technical heritage that takes you back to life in the Mislinja Valley at the beginning of the 20th century. In the past, many farms along the river were connected with milling and sawmilling – within just a few kilometers between Turiška vas and Šmartno, there were as many as eight sawmills and seven mills in operation.
The mill and sawmill buildings are part of the old farmstead p.d. Herc, where around 1914 the owners Valentin and Terezija Laure built a facility that represented an important supplementary activity on the farm. The sawmill, known as the “Venetian” saw, with a wooden cart and chain drive, still preserves its powerful mechanism today, which the locals called the “firzac” saw. The site also showcases the living environment of a worker from the World War II era.
The mill, with its authentic “verk” (waterwheel mechanism), carved details, and original milling tools, tells the story of a time when people in the valley grew and milled grain and corn for their own needs. The milling activity ceased in 1983, and the sawmilling stopped in 1991, after which the building began to deteriorate — but today, thanks to two thorough renovations, Herčeva sawmill is once again alive as a museum space.
Today, the Herčeva sawmill and mill are managed by the Šmartno Tourist Improvement Association and the Vedrin Tourist Sports Association, who, together with the museum, take care of reviving the technical heritage of the valley. Visits are possible from April to October, and guided tours bring the stories of the past to life by prior arrangement.
SOURCE: Koroški pokrajinski muzej (www.kpm.si/razstave/herceva-zaga-in-mlin/)