Moulin de Courcelles-lès-Lens

Moulin de Courcelles-lès-Lens is a brick tower windmill standing in Courcelles-lès-Lens, a small commune in the Pas-de-Calais department, about 9 km northwest of Douai. It belongs to a small group of surviving windmills in the Hauts-de-France region and is regarded locally as one of the village's heritage landmarks.

What does the windmill look like?

The mill is a classic brick-built tower, tapering toward the top and capped by a rotating conical roof carrying a set of sails built in the traditional Flemish style. It stands on rue des Fusillés, in a quiet residential part of the commune, away from the region's main tourist routes — which for many visitors is part of its appeal.

How is a tower mill like this built?

This is a typical moulin-tour: the brick tower itself stays fixed, while only the wooden cap on top, together with the sails, rotates to face the wind. Part of the original mechanism survives inside, including the drive shaft that transferred the sails' rotation down to the grinding stones.

What is the mill's history?

The earliest references to a mill in Courcelles-lès-Lens go back to 1760. At that time the building served two purposes at once — a grain mill for producing flour, and a separate installation for pressing linseed oil, a combination that was common in the farming villages of northern France during that period. This dual use points to how important the mill was to the surrounding farming community for decades.

What happened to it during the 20th century?

Like many rural windmills in the region, it eventually fell out of use for milling and was left abandoned. The structure nonetheless survived in a condition that made later restoration possible, which allowed the commune to buy it back and commit to a full renovation.

How was the mill restored?

Rescue work picked up pace in 2008. On 22 December 2008, a crane was used to fit a new roof weighing several tonnes, along with parts of the internal mechanism that transmits the rotating motion. A few months later, on 14 May 2009, reconstructed Flemish-style sails were mounted on the tower, giving the mill back its distinctive historic silhouette. The official reopening after the restoration was planned for 14 July 2009, tying the mill's revival to a symbolic French national holiday.

Does the mill still grind grain?

The restoration was mainly a conservation effort aimed at saving the structure from further decay, rather than a return to full commercial flour production. Today the mill functions primarily as a heritage site that the commune opens to visitors.

What can you see there today?

Years after the restoration was completed, the mill's condition has needed attention — maintenance became less regular after 2017, a severe storm damaged the sails, and birds have taken to nesting inside the tower. Even so, the mill remains commune property and is still pointed to as one of the more interesting sights in Courcelles-lès-Lens for anyone curious about windmill history and traditional rural crafts.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is the windmill in Courcelles-lès-Lens? It stands on rue des Fusillés in the commune of Courcelles-lès-Lens, Pas-de-Calais, roughly 9 km northwest of Douai.

How old is the mill? The earliest records mentioning the mill date back to 1760, though its present appearance results from a restoration carried out in 2008–2009.

What was the mill originally used for? It historically ground grain into flour and, in the same building, also housed a linseed oil press.

Can visitors go inside the mill? The mill is owned by the commune and was opened to visitors after its restoration; given storm damage and reduced upkeep reported after 2017, it is worth checking current access before planning a visit.