Lindenthaler Mühle, Leipzig

Mills have been documented in Leipzig since the Middle Ages. They were water mills, and they were all located west of and near the city. The operating water was brought in by mill ditches from the flood-prone floodplain of the Pleiße and Weißer Elster rivers. Since water power was the most important source of energy until the 19th century, the mills served not only as grain mills but also to drive various other trades. In addition, the regulation of the weirs and discharge ditches and their maintenance also provided a certain degree of flood protection.

The most important mills from south to north were the Nonnen-, the Thomas-, the Barfuß- and the Angermühle. With the saying: "Thomas went barefoot with 'ner Nun über'n Anger" the children of Leipzig learned their names. Because of the low gradient of the rivers in the Leipzig area, all the mills had undershot water wheels. The mills were in operation until the end of the 19th century and in one case even beyond, although they were already located within the city area after the city grew.

With the incorporation of the surrounding villages, more mills were added to the town, but most of them are also no longer in operation today. Until the abolition of compulsory milling and the introduction of freedom of trade, the milling industry remained strictly regulated. Initially, the mills belonged to the respective landlords. These could be landowners or monasteries, but also the municipality. While the "Mühlbann" protected the catchment area of a mill by prohibiting the construction of further mills in the area concerned, the "Mahlzwang" obligated the farmers to have their grain ground in a specific mill.

There were also numerous windmills in Leipzig and especially in the incorporated areas.