Saint Panteleimon’s windmill

The windmill of Agios Panteleimon is one of the oldest surviving buildings in the Municipality, dating back to the mid-18th century during the period of Ottoman rule, and has been designated a protected monument. It is built on a central, elevated spot in the settlement, next to a nearby dry riverbed, to take advantage of the wind that typically blows in that specific location. The windmill’s location and distinctive architectural features make it a landmark, as it is worth noting that there is no other windmill in the wider region, as in Western Macedonia it was customary in the past to grind grains in watermills built alongside rivers and streams.

It is a circular, stone structure that is in very good condition on the outside. This is due in part to the restoration work carried out in 2006, which protected the historic building from the ravages of time. The work included cement injections into the masonry and repairs to the roof, as well as the restoration of the damaged windmill wheel.

The windmill is constructed from local materials: the distinctive blue stone of Agios Panteleimon and wood for the roof, the window and door frames, and the mechanism. It constituted a completely eco-friendly system for producing flour, particularly efficient for its time, utilising local grains.

The windmill used to have two stories, but today the upper story, which housed the grinding mechanism, has been destroyed. The lower floor housed the millstones, which were driven by a system of shafts, and served as a storage area, while the upper floor housed the grinding mechanism. On the north side of the windmill, through a specially constructed opening, the sail protruded; it consisted of a central horizontal wooden shaft and “spokes”—10 to 12 wooden beams— on which the triangular sails were stretched.

According to tradition, the windmill belonged to the monastery that was “submerged” by the waters of the lake when its water level rose.