One of the monuments of cultural heritage in Prespa is the water mill of Agios Germanos. The complex was built in 1930 and of all the watermills in the area, it was the one that has survived until today. In 1997, on the initiative of the Society for the Protection of Prespa (SPP) and with the contribution of local residents and volunteers from WWF, the first attempts at restoration were made. Then, with the support of foundations (A.G. Leventis Foundation and Stavros Niarchos Foundation), the restoration of the main watermill was completed in 2014 and in 2016 the project won the European Union Prize for Cultural Heritage / EuropaNostra Award in the category “Restoration”.
Today, with the continuous support of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation and the A.G. Leventis Foundation, the construction of the neighbouring watermill (located next to the main building) and the ancillary spaces is being completed, with the aim to operate initially as a museum and as a functional watermill in the future.The project is currently being completed.
During the years that it operated as a museum, the watermill was visited by schools and educational institutions from all over Greece, while rarely did any visitor, Greek or foreign, leave Prespa without being guided through its mechanisms and its surroundings.
As construction works are in progress, the watermill was temporarily closed. However, the site opened to visitors during the Easter period 2024 and remains open for a visit the folowing days/hours: Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, 10:00-14:00. In particular, only the main watermill and the water supply system will be open to visitors.
The opening of the reconstructed complex is expected in October 2024. If you would like to be notified of the exact date click HERE, subscribe to the Prespa community and stay up to date on what’s happening in Prespa.
The SPP is responsible for the operation of the watermill. Group visits can be scheduled upon request (tel: 2385051211, email: spp@spp.gr ).
Watch the video of the watermill’s restoration below: