Le Moulin du Bonheur

Le Moulin du Bonheur is an 18th-century windmill on the island of Porquerolles, part of the commune of Hyères in the Var department. It stands on a low rise close to Fort Sainte-Agathe, surrounded by the scrubland and pine groves typical of the Hyères islands.

When was the mill built and what was it used for?

The mill was constructed between 1722 and 1728, at a time when Porquerolles was a small, largely self-sufficient farming community. It ground wheat grown on the island, supplying flour to local residents. As farming on Porquerolles declined over the following centuries, the sails stopped turning and the structure fell into disrepair — eventually only the round stone tower remained, half-hidden by wild vegetation.

The mill's revival came in 2007, when a local heritage association dedicated to preserving Porquerolles' history joined forces with the Port-Cros National Park, which owns the site, to rebuild it. The restoration covered both the stone tower and the wooden sails, bringing the mill back to a working appearance for the first time in more than two centuries, even though it no longer produces flour commercially.

What does the Moulin du Bonheur look like?

The building follows the traditional design of Provençal windmills. Its round tower, roughly 6 metres tall and 6 metres in diameter, is built from roughly hewn stone and topped with a conical roof covered in classic Provençal tiles. Wooden sails complete the structure, turning in the wind in a way that recalls the archetypal windmills of southern France. Because the mill sits only about 200 metres from Fort Sainte-Agathe, the two sites are easy to combine into a single stop while exploring the island.

How can you visit the mill?

The interior of the Moulin du Bonheur is only accessible on guided tours organised by Fort Sainte-Agathe, held on Wednesdays and Fridays at 10:00 a.m. Adult tickets cost 12 euros, while children aged 6 to 18 and students pay 6 euros. Children under 6, island residents, and visitors with disabilities are admitted free of charge. Because tour slots are limited, it's worth planning ahead, especially during the busy summer season when Porquerolles draws large numbers of day-trippers.

How do you get to the mill on Porquerolles?

Porquerolles has no road link to the mainland, so the only way to reach it is by ferry, most commonly from Hyères or La Tour Fondue. Once on the island, the mill is within easy walking distance of the main paths, right next to the fort. The island itself is small and best explored on foot or by bicycle, which makes it simple to pair a visit to the mill with the island's other attractions, such as its beaches and lighthouse.

Frequently asked questions

What was the Moulin du Bonheur originally used for? It is a grain windmill built on Porquerolles between 1722 and 1728, used to grind wheat grown on the island into flour for local residents.

Can visitors go inside the mill? Yes, but only as part of a guided tour organised by Fort Sainte-Agathe, held on Wednesdays and Fridays at 10:00 a.m.

How much does it cost to visit? Adult tickets are 12 euros, and tickets for children aged 6-18 and students are 6 euros. Children under 6, island residents, and visitors with disabilities enter free.

Who manages the mill today? It belongs to the Port-Cros National Park, and its 2007 restoration was carried out in partnership with a local association dedicated to preserving Porquerolles' heritage.