Molí d'Aire del Tossalet del Molí

Molí d'Aire del Tossalet del Molí is a historic windmill standing on the Tossalet del Molí hill above the village of Eslida, in the Sierra de Espadán mountains, Valencia province. It survives as one of the few windmills in a region where grain was usually milled with water power rather than wind.

What kind of structure is this?

It is a former grain windmill, most likely built in the 18th or 19th century. The tower has a truncated conical shape with a slightly oval base and stands around 3.80 metres tall. Its thick walls were built from limestone bonded with lime-and-sand mortar and finished with a limewash coating, a construction style typical of rural buildings in the area at the time.

Why is a windmill sitting on top of a hill here?

Local sources suggest the tower may originally have served as an auxiliary watchtower linked to Eslida's castle, keeping watch over access through the Barranc de l'Oret ravine. Once that defensive role was no longer needed, the structure was adapted into a windmill — an unusual choice for the Sierra de Espadán, where water-powered mills were far more common than wind-powered ones.

How did the mill actually work?

The building originally had a second storey, which no longer survives. A timber cross-frame supported that upper floor, where the milling mechanism and the grindstones used to turn grain into flour were housed. The uppermost parts of the structure — the sail blades, the movable cap covering the mechanism, and part of the gearing — could rotate so the sails always faced into the wind, letting the mill capture wind power regardless of its direction.

Can visitors still see it today?

What remains today is the stone tower itself; the upper floor and the milling machinery have been lost over time. In 2008 the site underwent restoration work that reinforced and stabilised the upper sections of the walls to halt further deterioration. As a result, the Molí d'Aire remains a recognisable landmark on the hillside, visible from hiking trails that cross the Sierra de Espadán around Eslida, including routes heading toward the Cova de l'Oret cave.

How do you get there?

The windmill sits on the Tossalet del Molí hill right next to Eslida. Local footpaths connect the village to this and other nearby points of interest, and the walk is popular with hikers and cyclists exploring the Sierra de Espadán. Because the site is on a hilltop, plan for a short but noticeably uphill approach.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Molí d'Aire del Tossalet del Molí? It is a historic grain windmill in Eslida, likely built in the 18th or 19th century, partly preserved today as a stone tower.

Why is this windmill unusual for the region? Because water mills dominated milling in the Sierra de Espadán — windmills like this one were rare, making it a local architectural curiosity.

Did the building ever serve another purpose? Yes, according to available sources it may have first functioned as an auxiliary watchtower connected to Eslida's castle, controlling access through the Barranc de l'Oret ravine.

Has the windmill been restored, and can it be visited? The tower was restored in 2008, with reinforcement work on its upper walls. It can be viewed from the outside while hiking the trails around Eslida.