Moulin à vent de Cherves

Moulin à vent de Cherves is a windmill standing at the edge of Cherves, a small commune in the Vienne department of western France. Better known locally as Moulin Tol, it is the only windmill in the entire department listed as a historic monument, and until recently the only one still able to turn in the wind.

How old is the windmill?

The date 1796 is carved into the stonework in several places, pointing to the late 18th century for the structure standing today, though some regional accounts trace milling on the site back a century earlier. The mill kept working until around 1920, after which it fell into disrepair along with seven other windmills that once stood in the commune of Cherves.

Who brought it back from ruin?

In 1972 the local heritage association Les Gens de Cherves took on the abandoned building. A two-year restoration completed in 1973 followed the original design as closely as possible: the millstones, main beams and speed regulator are the originals, while the cogwheel and lantern pinion were rebuilt in elm and serviceberry wood, and the rotating shaft and sails in oak.

What does the building look like?

The mill is a cylindrical tower built of rubble stone, with two doorways, a small chimney, and a stone staircase set directly into the thickness of the wall — a construction typical of tower windmills across the Poitou region.

Is there more to see on site?

The windmill sits within a larger heritage complex run by Les Gens de Cherves, known as the ferme culturelle de Cherves. Housed in a 15th-century farmstead, the site holds fifteen exhibition rooms devoted to the traditional rural culture of the Haut-Poitou area, plus a working bread oven and a forge.

Can visitors tour the windmill today?

A severe storm at the end of 2024 damaged the sails and mechanism, halting the mill's operation; repairs are under way, with reopening hoped for sometime in 2026. Anyone planning a visit should check current opening times with the Haut-Poitou tourist office (with desks in Neuville-de-Poitou and Mirebeau) — the surrounding cultural farm, with its museum and bread oven, remains open to visitors in the meantime.

How do you get there, and what else is nearby?

The mill stands in the area locally known as "Sur les Moulins," in the commune of Cherves (postcode 86170). Walkers can also explore the wider landscape on the "La Dive et les Moulins" trail, an approximately 11-kilometre loop that follows the Dive river past the sites where the commune's water mills and windmills once stood.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Moulin à vent de Cherves the same place as Moulin Tol? Yes — Moulin Tol is the local name for the same windmill in Cherves, and it is the name most often used in Vienne tourism materials.

Is it the only windmill in the Vienne department? It is the only windmill in Vienne listed as a monument historique and the only one with a working mechanism, even though the commune of Cherves once had eight windmills of its own.

Is the windmill currently operating? Before storm damage at the end of 2024 it turned whenever there was wind; it is currently closed for repair, with reopening expected sometime in 2026, so it's worth checking ahead of a visit.

What else can visitors see nearby? The ferme culturelle de Cherves, with its bread oven and forge, and the "La Dive et les Moulins" walking trail along the Dive river.