Old mill and oil press museum

Just a ten-minute drive from Karakol stands an ancient mill with an oil press. This structure, built in 1871, is over 150 years old, yet its mechanism remains fully operational. It’s a cherished family heirloom of its current owners. In the past, Lavrenty Matyashov constructed eight such mills along a local river, but only this one has survived, thanks largely to the attached oil press. According to its current owner, Sergey Mishchenko, the press is what kept it preserved.

Sergey has transformed the mill into a museum, with exhibits gathered from far and wide. The collection features a fascinating array of items, such as grain grinders, juice and wine presses, spinning wheels, antique samovars, cauldrons, and even artifacts from Przhevalsky’s expeditions, among many others. Exploring the entire collection requires ample time.

“One of the most intriguing exhibits here is the ‘kaskan,’ a multipurpose tool used by nomads. In the past, it served a dual function. Nowadays, when we prepare manti, we simply boil water and steam them on top. However, back then, meat was cooked in the bottom section, while the manti steamed above,” explains Angelina Grebenshchikova, the museum’s custodian.

The mill itself is expected to stand for at least another 200 years. The secret lies in the building material and how it was treated. The mill is constructed from Tien Shan spruce, which, after being felled, was soaked for two years in the salty waters of Issyk-Kul Lake before being dried and used in construction. This process ensured that the logs remain in excellent condition even today.

One log, in particular, has a rich history; it’s 400 years old and has been serving as a press at the oil mill for nearly 150 years. The main difference is that in the past, one or two horses were required to lift it, while today, hydraulics handle the task effortlessly. During Soviet times, this mill supplied oil to the entire village, pressing it from mustard seeds, walnuts, and even apricot kernels. The seeds were first ground using granite millstones. Currently, the mill produces oil solely from rapeseed and only for personal use, with the pressing season starting at the end of September.

A water wheel powers nearly all the mechanisms, both at the oil mill and the grain mill. But the most fascinating feature is located directly above the oil press—a simple attic that has been converted into a museum.

“Here, you can find a unique Kyrgyz item called the ‘chany kap,’ which was used to transport porcelain bowls to nomadic camps. There were several of them, and they were hung on horses or camels, securely packed to ensure they reached their destination intact. Many people mistake it for a headdress,” Sergey notes.

Much of the collection has been inherited by Sergey. For example, items belonging to the famous traveler and geographer Nikolai Przhevalsky were once preserved by Sergey’s grandfather. “My grandfather, Pyotr Pogrebnyak, provided Cossacks for Przhevalsky’s expeditions and participated himself. He was part of the fourth expedition, along with other Cossacks. The fifth expedition never took place, and Przhevalsky’s belongings remained with us, including a large leather suitcase that once held them. We need to bring it here; it’s a massive, vintage piece,” shares the museum’s founder.

The primary visitors to the museum are schoolchildren. Teachers often bring them here for excursions instead of history lessons, and admission is free for them as well as for locals. For foreign visitors, there’s a symbolic entry fee of $1.20. However, tourists are rare, as many guides are simply unaware of the museum’s existence.