Windmill on the Zielona Reservoir, Kalety

On a small wooded island in the lower pond at Kalety-Zielona stands a wooden windmill with sails — the landmark of this forest district of Kalety. A footbridge once led to it and you could even spend the night inside. Today the mill has been restored but is closed, and the only way to see it up close is from a kayak.

A reservoir made of two ponds

The Zielona reservoir is in fact two bodies of water on the Mała Panew river. The smaller lower pond, about 20 ha, formed in an old iron-ore working, and before the war it was used for carp farming. The larger upper reservoir (about 60 ha) was created in 1970–1971 by damming the river. The two, linked by a dyke, are now used for recreation. Zielona lies about 5 km from the centre of Kalety, separated from it by forest.

The windmill on the island

The windmill stands on an island in the lower pond. It used to be open to visitors, and its interior was fitted out as accommodation. Since the footbridge was removed it has been inaccessible — you can paddle to the island, but the mill can only be seen from outside. In recent years its cladding, roof and sails were renewed and LED lighting powered by renewable energy was installed, so in the evening the mill glows softly above the water. Travel guides mention plans to revitalise it and reopen the interior, including a cable ferry to replace the bridge — for now these are plans, not an actual offer.

What to look for

• The beach opposite the island on the lower pond gives the best head-on view of the mill.
• From the dyke between the ponds you can see both reservoirs at once, with the island in the middle.
• At dawn and in the evening, when the water is still, the mill is reflected in the surface.

Practical information

You can park free of charge on ul. Stawowa by the water or on ul. Ofiar Katynia near the palace. A green-marked trail, the Zielona Pętla ("Green Loop", about 9 km), runs around the water with five educational stops, including one by beaver lodges; it suits walking, cycling and Nordic walking, and cross-country skiing in winter. The area is open all year and free of charge. Swimming in the lower pond is at your own risk, without a lifeguard.

Tripto tip

Allow a quarter of an hour for the windmill and 2–3 hours for the loop around the reservoir. Nearby you will find the Donnersmarck hunting palace of 1860–1861 (under renovation, closed) and the Tree of Freedom — an oak planted in 1945 by Silesian insurgents on the spot of a 1938 tree destroyed in September 1939.