Moulin de Kerbroué

Moulin de Kerbroué is a working windmill in La Turballe, on the Guérande peninsula in the Loire-Atlantique department. It stands on a low hill exposed to winds off the sea and the nearby salt marshes, surrounded by the low, hedge-lined landscape typical of the Breton coast. It's one of only two windmills on the peninsula that still grind grain today, rather than standing as mere relics of a pre-industrial past.

Where does this windmill come from?

Moulin de Kerbroué was built in 1746 as a "moulin tour" — a stone tower mill with a rotating cap carrying the sails. In its original form it had two levels, cloth-covered sails, and a single pair of millstones. It was a modest structure, typical of the hundreds of windmills that once dotted the Atlantic coast, grinding grain for local farms and households.

How did the mill change in the 19th century?

In 1893 the owners carried out a major upgrade. The building was raised by an additional level, a second pair of millstones was added along with a smaller grinding mechanism, and the mill was fitted with the Berton system — a mechanism that lets the miller adjust the sails from inside the building rather than climbing outside — plus a self-orienting cap that automatically turns the sails to face the wind. These changes made the mill far more efficient: in strong wind it can grind up to 100 kilograms of wheat per hour.

Who ran the mill, and when did it stop working?

From 1810 onward, the mill was run by the Nogues family across five generations of millers. The last of them, Fernand Nogues, stopped operating the mill in 1969, as traditional windmills lost out to industrial-scale flour production. The building then stood unused for decades until the municipality of La Turballe acquired it in 1999 and restored it.

Who looks after the mill today?

Since 2004, day-to-day operation has been entrusted to the association Au Gré des Vents. Its members keep the machinery in working order, mill flour the way it was done a century ago, and lead guided tours for visitors. Flour and bread baked from the mill's own flour are sold on site — a rare chance to taste a product that comes straight from a genuinely working historic windmill rather than a static display.

What can you see during a visit?

A guided tour lasts about 45 minutes and takes visitors through every level of the mill: the sail mechanism and Berton system, the chambers housing the millstones, and the area where flour is sifted and packed. A small museum is housed in what used to be the grain and flour storeroom, displaying everyday objects from the past — traditional Breton costumes, lace coiffes, waffle irons, and other pieces tied to local craft traditions.

Frequently asked questions

Does Moulin de Kerbroué still grind grain? Yes. It's one of the two active windmills left on the Guérande peninsula — the machinery is fully operational and flour is produced regularly, not just for demonstration purposes.

When can you visit the mill? Individual visitors can book guided tours from April to October by phone reservation. Groups can book tours year-round. Each visit lasts around 45 minutes.

What makes Moulin de Kerbroué different from a typical windmill? Its defining feature is the 1893 Berton system, which lets the sails be adjusted from inside the building, combined with a self-orienting cap that automatically turns the mill to face the wind.

Can you buy flour or bread at the mill? Yes, flour milled on site and bread baked from that flour are both sold at the mill, and sampling them is one of the highlights of a visit.