Identification and restoration of the traditional watermills in Lipjan

Abstract

Watermills in Kosovo have been for centuries a characteristic element of river valley landscapes and have played a very important socio-economic role in the country. Although nowadays some preserved and functioning watermills exist, most of them are abandoned, destroyed, and many with very few remains to trace. This research aims to identify and describe the current state of the watermills in the western part of the Lipjan Municipality, as well as to mark them on a geographic information system map. This study examines the possibility of restoring these mills to their original function or adapting them to a new function. The study sampled one of the identified mills, analyzed its characteristics, and the possibility of restoration and preservation for tourism and cultural heritage purposes.