Horse Mill, Rothenburg

The Horse Mill is a historically significant building constructed in 1516. Initially serving as a mill, it provided an alternative source of flour during water shortages or mill failures. The square-shaped building with a diameter of 18 meters featured a distinctive half-hipped roof and bat dormer windows. The Horse Mill became renowned as the "perfect horse mill" and attracted customers from a 30-kilometer radius, causing tensions with the locals who wanted to prioritize their own food supply.

During droughts and times of war, neighboring millers relied on the Horse Mill for milling operations. However, with the rise of industrialization, the mill's importance waned. Plans to convert it into a cavalry barracks were abandoned, and instead, gymnastics enthusiasts used it for physical training. After World War II, it housed a glass blowing workshop producing Christmas tree decorations. A fire in 1952 damaged the mill, but it was later reconstructed and repurposed as a youth hostel. Today, the Horse Mill youth hostel provides accommodation with 178 beds, including family bedrooms.