Built in the early 17th century, the paper mill in the spa town of Duszniki-Zdrój is a unique technical monument in Europe. Today it hosts a museum, where you can see with your own eyes how paper is made – and take part in its creation!
Paper mill in Duszniki – history
For several centuries, three successive families of papermakers in Duszniki have produced handmade paper famous for its high quality. The use of pioneering production methods has brought the company much publicity. The best expression of the owners’ success was the building itself, which gained an elegant facade and polychromes that are extremely rare in industrial buildings.
The Duszniki paper mill, despite its exposure to fires and floods, has been preserved without major changes. Nor did it share the fate of other similar facilities, which in the 19th century were closed down or converted into factories equipped with modern production machinery.
The tradition of handmade papermaking was already consciously upheld at the time, while today it is the axis of the educational program run by the Museum of Papermaking, which operates here and consistently protects and promotes this legacy.
Museum of Papermaking – tour
In the mill, paper is made just as it was centuries ago. Workers dip screens into the vat and imprint the drawn pulp layer on the water-absorbent divider. This is how every single sheet is created.
By visiting the museum, you can see first-hand a production technique known since the Middle Ages. When attending the workshop, on the other hand, you create your own sheet yourself!
It is worth paying a visit to Duszniki-Zdrój on the last weekend of July, when the Paper Festival is held. During the festival, visits to the museum are free, many workshops are organized, and a fair of local handicrafts is held around the area.
EXPLORE THE REGION – KŁODZKO LAND
