Moulin à vent de Charnailles

Moulin à vent de Charnailles is a historic windmill standing above the village of Jambles, in the Saône-et-Loire department of the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region.

Where exactly does the windmill stand?

The mill sits on a hill known as Chaume de Renache, at an altitude of 337 metres, surrounded by vineyards. The site was chosen deliberately: an exposed, elevated hilltop guaranteed the steady wind needed to turn the sails, while also giving a commanding view over the surrounding countryside — a feature local tradition also links to the hill's earlier strategic importance, separate from its milling role.

When was the current windmill built?

The stone tower mill dates from the turn of the 18th to the 19th century. It replaced an earlier wooden mill that, according to local tradition, was run by a man known as "Père Poulain." His wife reportedly sold wafers ("gaufres") for one sou at the site — one of the few colourful details to survive from the period before the stone tower was built.

Does the mill go by another name?

Yes. Local sources also refer to it as "Moulin de Renache," after the Chaume de Renache hill on which it stands. Both names describe the same building and are used interchangeably in regional records.

How long did it operate, and what happened to it afterwards?

The mill was still working at the end of the 19th century, when two millers were active in Jambles — one of them at Charnailles. It later fell out of use and was abandoned. Its fortunes changed when a local mason-craftsman bought the building. Using his own savings, he carried out a thorough renovation, rebuilding the roof frame entirely in wood. He died, however, before he could finish fitting out the interior, leaving that work incomplete.

Is the windmill a protected monument?

Yes. The Moulin à vent de Charnailles has been listed as a monument historique since 27 September 1961, recognising it as a testament to the traditional rural milling economy of the region.

What should visitors know before going?

The mill stands among the vineyards typical of this part of Saône-et-Loire, making the setting itself worth the short walk up the hill. Thanks to the elevation and open terrain, the site also offers views over the surrounding countryside — valued in the past for defence, today mainly for the landscape. Because the last owner never completed the interior fit-out, visitors should expect to appreciate the mill mainly as an exterior piece of rural architecture rather than a fully furnished museum.

Frequently asked questions

What is the windmill in Jambles called, and does it have another name? It is called Moulin à vent de Charnailles, also known as Moulin de Renache, after the hill it stands on.

When was the current stone mill built? At the turn of the 18th to the 19th century, on the site of an earlier wooden mill.

Is the windmill a protected historic monument? Yes, it has been listed as a monument historique since 27 September 1961.

Can visitors go inside the windmill? The last owner, a mason by trade, restored the roof and frame but died before finishing the interior, so the mill is best appreciated as a monument seen from the outside.