Moulin à vent de Saint-Martin-au-Laërt

Moulin à vent de Saint-Martin-au-Laërt is a historic windmill standing on the edge of Saint-Omer, within the commune of Saint-Martin-lez-Tatinghem, in the Pas-de-Calais department. The tower is clearly visible from the nearby ring road (the Rocade), making it one of the recognizable landmarks along the route around Saint-Omer. The mill's name refers to the historic Saint-Martin-au-Laërt parish it was traditionally associated with, even though it sits administratively within Saint-Martin-lez-Tatinghem.

When was the windmill built?

The construction date is confirmed by an inscription carved into a stone inside the tower: "CES MOULEN FE L'AN MEIL 1801" — the year 1801. The mill was raised by Jean-François Speneux and M.-C. Hericourt. Speneux was active around the turn of the 19th century acquiring national properties put up for sale after the French Revolution, including the Saint-Bertin mill in Saint-Omer itself.

What happened to it over the following decades?

For decades the windmill ground flour, but production eventually became unprofitable. By around 1900 the structure was already a ruin — postcards from that era show broken sails and a neglected tower. Over the following decades the mill stood abandoned, losing more of its structure with each passing year.

How was it restored?

The mill's revival began in 1978, when Mr. and Mrs. Huart took on its rehabilitation. The work, supported by ARAM — an association of windmill enthusiasts — took five years to complete. The restored windmill was inaugurated on 18 September 1983. The effort proved lasting: in 2001 the mill was listed as a historic monument (monument historique) in France, confirming its value as a witness to the region's industrial past.

What does the structure look like?

The mill tower stands 14.50 metres tall, or 18.50 metres including its cap. It was built from red brick decorated with three rows of white dressed stone, creating a contrasting pattern visible from a distance. The walls are substantial — 1.20 metres thick at the base, tapering to 0.60 metres near the top, a typical feature of traditional tower mills in the region. The sails span 21.70 metres and were built from iron and iroko wood — a combination of a durable metal frame with moisture-resistant tropical timber that was common in 20th-century mill restorations.

Why is it worth visiting?

The Moulin à vent de Saint-Martin-au-Laërt is a rare surviving example of a masonry tower mill that went through a long period of neglect before being restored to its original form through a private initiative. The Saint-Omer area, known for its Marais Audomarois wetlands and rich industrial heritage, has few remaining mill towers of this scale — this one offers a glimpse of what 19th-century flour-milling infrastructure looked like in northern France before industrial mills took over.

Frequently asked questions

Which commune is the windmill actually in? Although its name refers to Saint-Martin-au-Laërt, the windmill is administratively located in the commune of Saint-Martin-lez-Tatinghem, right next to Saint-Omer.

Is the mill still operational? After its 1978–1983 restoration, the windmill functions as a heritage site open to visitors rather than an active flour-producing mill.

When was it listed as a historic monument? It was added to the monument historique list — France's register of protected historic buildings — in 2001.

Can it be seen from the road? Yes, the tower is clearly visible from the nearby ring road (the Rocade), making it an easy landmark to spot near Saint-Omer.