The Valley of Mills

From here, continue along the path past the former forest café. After approximately 500 meters of gently undulating path, you will reach Údolí mlýnků (Valley of Mills), where about 60 mills of various shapes clap on a small mountain stream. Here you will find, for example, the Svornost Mine tower, the chapel of St. Anna, or the local volunteer fire brigade's fire truck. In this peaceful nook of Jáchymov forests, you can sit on a bench and listen to the clapping of the mills and the murmur of the flowing stream.

You can return along the same path back to the spa hotel Radium Palace, or set off on unmarked forest paths climbing towards Popov. This variant, due to the significant ascent, is intended for more capable hikers.

Every May, the Valley of Mills comes to life during the traditional event Otevírání mlýnků (Opening of the Mills). Local residents and spa guests install new handmade mills here to keep them clapping nonstop all year round. Two legends are associated with this tradition. One is intended for the youngest, and the other for adults.

Legends of the Valley of Mills

It is said that mills have been placed here since the creation of the first spas, which is over 100 years ago. And why is that? Two legends are told.

The first one is mainly told to children.

Once many years ago, a carpenter's apprentice came to Jáchymov. He fell in love with his master's daughter, but their love was not approved by her father. The young apprentice had to leave and could return only after earning enough money. As he left the town, it was already near sunset, and he headed towards what is now Ostrov. Since it soon grew dark, the boy lay down in a pile of leaves next to a stream.

During the night, he was awakened by a child's cry that would not stop. When the boy looked around, he saw a water sprite trying to lull his sprite child to sleep with his wife. In vain. So the young apprentice carved a small mill by moonlight, which he placed in the stream. The water turned the mill, and it began to clap rhythmically. The little water sprite stopped crying and soon fell asleep with a smile. For his kindness, the young man received a river pearl and some water grass leaves from the sprite. The sprite also told him not to speak of what had happened.

When the apprentice awoke the next morning, the sprite family was gone, and he found a handful of silver thalers in his pocket instead of leaves. Therefore, he could return to Jáchymov and marry the girl he loved.

The clapping mill pleased passers-by, and they began to add more and more handmade mills to the stream.

The second version, the more truthful one, says that spa guests mainly started placing the mills in the stream. They believed that if their mill clapped regularly, their sinful life and love affairs at the spa would be atoned, and their life would go on without blemish.

According to another legend, couples build mills and place them on the stream so that their relationship would always run smoothly.

Which version you believe is up to you.