Moulin à vent de la Bigottière

Moulin à vent de la Bigottière is a historic windmill standing in Mozé-sur-Louet, a small village in the Maine-et-Loire department, roughly fifteen kilometres south of Angers. Perched on a gentle rise above the surrounding fields, it belongs to the family of traditional Angevin windmills that once dotted the countryside of Anjou.

What makes this a "moulin-cavier"?

The mill belongs to a regional building type known as the moulin-cavier: a stone tower set on a raised base, or cavier, which lifted the grinding mechanism higher so it could catch more wind over the flat terrain of the Loire valley. The tower itself was built from local schist, a stone widely used in this part of Anjou. At the top sits a rotating cap called the hucherolle, which let the miller turn the sails to face the wind without having to rotate the entire tower.

How did the mill actually work?

Like most rural mills in the area, its job was straightforward: grinding grain into flour for the surrounding farms, generation after generation. Inside, two pairs of millstones survive, one of them still in working condition and able to demonstrate the milling process today. The sails were fitted with a Berton system — a mechanism of adjustable slats along each blade that let the miller change how much surface area caught the wind, rather than having to climb out and reef each sail by hand. This system was common on Angevin windmills through the 18th and 19th centuries.

What happened to the mill over the centuries?

Construction dates to 1750, and the mill ran continuously for well over a century, milling flour until 1908. After it stopped working, the building sat unused for decades and its original sails and much of the internal machinery gradually deteriorated. It wasn't until the second half of the 20th century that restoration efforts began: the structure was restored in 1986, and the rebuilt mill — fitted with new Berton-style sails and a reconstructed cap — reopened in 1987. It has kept that restored appearance ever since, though it remains privately owned.

Is it protected, and can visitors go inside?

Given its historical and architectural value, the mill was listed as a monument historique (historic monument) by a decree dated 28 December 1984. It stands on Rue des Charmes in Mozé-sur-Louet and, being privately owned, its interior can only be visited by prior arrangement with the owners. The tower itself, however, is easily seen from the road and has become a familiar landmark on walking and cycling routes through the area, alongside other small pieces of Anjou's rural heritage.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the Moulin à vent de la Bigottière located? In the village of Mozé-sur-Louet, in the Maine-et-Loire department, about fifteen kilometres south of Angers, on Rue des Charmes.

When was the windmill built? It was built in 1750 and operated until 1908, before being restored and reopened in 1987.

What is the Berton system visible on the sails? It's a mechanism of movable slats fitted along the blades, allowing the miller to adjust how much wind surface the sails caught — a common feature on Angevin windmills.

Can you visit the inside of the mill? Only by prior appointment, since it is privately owned; the exterior, however, can be viewed freely from the road at any time.