Sputh Mill Exhibition

In the center of Mittelndorf, the members of the Mittelndorf Spring Festival Association have transformed the vaulted cellar rooms of the former inn into a very special exhibition space.

The focus is on the former paper mill - known to the locals as the Sputh Mill - and its founder Robert Sputh, who is considered the inventor of today's beer mat.

The paper mill in question stood in the Sebnitz Valley on Mittelndorf land. On the Bautzen-Bad Schandau railroad line, Sputh built a groundwood pulp factory near Mittelndorf in the Sebnitz Valley from 1882, powered by water from the Sebnitzbach stream. The factory had its own railway siding and was popularly known as the Sputh mill. The first customer for the groundwood pulp produced was the Sebnitz paper factory. The Sputh mill was an employer for many inhabitants of Mittelndorf for decades.

It was also here that Robert Sputh invented the first beer mat using the groundwood process - more out of necessity than anything else. As a result of an overproduction crisis in the wood pulp industry, he looked for new uses for groundwood products in 1890/91. In 1892, he patented a "process for the production of wood felt boards or wood felt coasters", which were used as beer coasters. From then on, the new absorbent coasters made of wood pulp replaced the felt coasters previously used in the catering trade.

In 1937, the factory burned down and is now unfortunately just a ruin.

The exhibition has now preserved a piece of local history and brought it to life. The people of Mittelndorf have created this exhibition with great attention to detail and look forward to your visit every Saturday from 13:00 to 17:00!