Gaidar: A windmill that keeps the village’s history alive

Built in 1894, the windmill in Gaidar bears witness to how the community once processed grain. Both the structure and its mechanisms are made of wood, and one of the windmill’s distinctive features is that it can be rotated to face the wind.

The European Union invested €52,000 in its renovation. European support for the restoration aims to preserve the windmill’s authenticity by conserving original elements and replacing damaged parts with components that respect the historic structure. This intervention protects not only a building, but also the techniques and knowledge associated with its use.

The windmill could also become an attraction for visitors interested in Gagauzia’s heritage and traditions. The restoration project was included in the Confidence-Building Measures programme, funded by the European Union and implemented by UNDP.