Moulin à vent

The Moulin à vent is a 19th-century windmill standing in the small village of Saint-Cyr-des-Gâts, in the Vendée department of western France. Its stone tower and cloth-covered sails have made it a quiet local landmark, and it is now one of the very few windmills in the Vendée that visitors can actually stay overnight in.

Where is the windmill in Saint-Cyr-des-Gâts?

The mill sits in a spot known as Le Champ du Trail, within the commune of Saint-Cyr-des-Gâts (postal code 85410). It is a rural, unhurried setting about 20 kilometres from Fontenay-le-Comte, one of the larger towns in southern Vendée. The mill stands alone among farmland, reached by small country roads rather than a busy tourist route.

Who built it, and what is its history?

The windmill was raised in 1885 for Moïse Martin, whose name it still carries locally as Moulin Martin. It follows the classic regional design of a moulin tour: a stone tower topped by a rotating cap, with sails stretched with canvas that millers adjusted according to the strength of the wind. A notable detail of its history is that it worked in tandem with a watermill called Le Roc — a footpath connected the two, and a single miller oversaw both, so grain could still be ground whether the wind or the water was doing the work. In recognition of its heritage value, the windmill was listed as a monument historique on 17 October 1977.

What condition is the windmill in today?

The mill was restored in the mid-2000s, but its sails deteriorated again over the following years — by 2017 part of the sail structure had been dismantled and the mill could no longer turn. Since then, further restoration work on the sails has kept the building's distinctive silhouette intact, even though it no longer operates as a working grain mill.

Can you visit or stay in the windmill?

There is no public tour of the interior in the traditional sense — it is not run as a museum or a guided heritage site. Instead, it has been converted into a small holiday cottage, marketed as Le Moulin à vent – Le Champ du Trail. Guests have access to one bedroom, a living room, a fully equipped kitchen, and a bathroom with a shower. This makes the Moulin à vent one of the only windmills anywhere in the Vendée where an overnight stay is possible, which is itself an unusual draw for travellers looking for a distinctive rural base.

What else is worth seeing nearby?

Saint-Cyr-des-Gâts lies in a peaceful stretch of southern Vendée, surrounded by fields and small hamlets. Its proximity to Fontenay-le-Comte, a town with a historic old centre, and to the Marais Poitevin — the network of canals and waterways nicknamed the "green Venice" — means the windmill can serve as a base for exploring the wider region, even though on its own it remains primarily a quiet rural curiosity.

Frequently asked questions

How old is the Saint-Cyr-des-Gâts windmill? It was built in 1885, making it more than 140 years old.

Does the windmill still grind grain? No. It no longer operates commercially — by 2017 its sails were partly dismantled, and the building now serves as a holiday rental.

Can you rent the windmill for a stay? Yes, it operates as a gîte with a bedroom, living room, kitchen, and bathroom.

Is the windmill a protected monument? Yes, it was listed as a French historic monument on 17 October 1977.

How far is it from Fontenay-le-Comte? About 20 kilometres, making it a workable base for exploring southern Vendée.