Molcha. Operating windmill (Nikolin Island Farmstead).
Landmark
Belarus, Gomel region, Svetlogorsk district, Sosnovoborsky village Council, Nikolin Island farm
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Description
The operating old windmill is located in "Nikolin Island Farmstead", which is located in the Svetlogorsk district.
The mill was established at the end of the 19th century, and is an outstanding example of wooden architecture. The windmill is still in operation today and visitors can go inside and inspect it.
However, to get there, you need to have your own transport, as you need to drive along the R-149 highway in the direction of the village of Molcha.
The owners of the estate do not charge an entrance fee to the territory of the windmill.
Categories
Architectural monument
Historical
Comments
Reviews to the Place
1Ольга Ерёменко
31.05.2025
It is the only operating windmill of the 19th century in the country.
In the heart of the picturesque Belarusian countryside, in 'Nikolin Island Farmstead', a unique pearl is hidden – the only operating windmill of the 19th century in the country. This is not just an architectural monument, but a living legend imbued with the spirit of history.
The tent-type mill, built in 1883, has seen a lot. Her story is full of twists and turns: from the hardworking hands of miller Savely Fominka, who moved her to the Zhlobin district in 1924, to dekulakization, camps and the tragic death of the owner. In Soviet times, the mill became collective farm property, and then, dismantled, it was transported to the village of Lyady. Until 1999, it continued to perform its function, already on electric power.
It seemed that the fate of the mill was sealed – oblivion and ruin. But in 1996, she returned to the heiress of Savelia Fominka, Anastasia Savelyevna. And so, in the 2000s, farmer Vladimir Bykhovtsev, impressed by the mill's history, bought it and moved it to his farmstead "Nikolin Island Farmstead", giving it a new lease of life.
He not only restored the mill, but also fulfilled the promise made to Anastasia Savelyevna: he installed a memorial stone with a plaque in honor of her father, who was a victim of repression.
Today, the windmill is not just an ornament of the Nikolin Island Farmstead, it is a symbol of rebirth, respect for history and the memory of ancestors. Under its rotating wings, history itself seems to come to life, and every visitor can touch the past, feel the connection of times and breathe in the clean air of the Belarusian nature.
A visit to the Nikolin Island Farmstead is a unique opportunity to see with your own eyes how carefully cultural heritage is preserved and how tragic events of the past turn into a symbol of hope and rebirth.