Bottmühle

The name derives from the „Bott“, a defensive or rampart platform laid out by the Italian fortress builder Alessandro Pasqualini between 1550 and 1552 behind the city wall as an artillery position. Pasqualini had been involved in building Cologne's defences since 1520 and worked on them until his death in 1559.

In 1587 the grain masters were ordered to have a windmill built on the site behind St. Severin. They commissioned Peter von Gleuel, who had qualified in Holland, to build it for 500 guilders. The timber post mill was completed in February 1588.

Between June 1677 and July 1678 town stonemason Arnold von Gülich replaced it with today's stone tower windmill, building it according to Pasqualini's old plans.

In 1832 the City of Cologne sold the Pantaleon and Bott mills to private owners. From at least 1879 the mill belonged to Jakob Flammerheim, who restored it until 1883. From 1911 to 1945 it housed student fraternities, including the ATV Markomannia-Westmark.

Since 1921 the mill has again belonged to the City of Cologne. After 1945 the British military administration handed it to the „Deutsche Jungenschaft“ for youth work; since 1970 Die Falken have had their seat here. The Bottmühle was renovated and freed of ivy up to July 2011.