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Watermill landscapes: rediscovering a climate-robust water system
The large numbers of watermills from the Middle Ages to the 19th century declined rapidly after 1850. Even now, weir devices at watermills are still disappearing. Nowadays, however, there is a policy-based revaluation of this cultural heritage. In addition to the value of the mill, the wider surroundings of the mill, the ‘watermill landscape’, are increasingly involved and seen as valuable. The watermill landscape unites heritage, water, landscape and ecological values. How this works in conjunction, is explained in detail in this contribution. Governments are increasingly using the concept of watermill landscape in spatial planning and future water management of stream valleys.