Moulin de la Croix-des-Noues

Moulin de la Croix-des-Noues is a 19th-century windmill standing on the western edge of Varennes-sur-Loire, in the Maine-et-Loire department, roughly ten kilometres from Saumur, right in the heart of the UNESCO-listed Loire Valley.

What is the history behind this windmill?

The mill was built in 1852, though not entirely from scratch: its internal mechanism, including the gears and the rotating cap, was brought over from an older mill at Bonneveau, in the neighbouring commune of Brain-sur-Allonnes. Its sails were fitted with the Berton shutter system, a French-patented device that let millers adjust wind exposure without halting the whole structure — a genuine technical improvement for its time. The mill ground flour until 1914, when operations stopped. At a later point, an additional outbuilding was added just south of the main tower.

What type of windmill is it?

Moulin de la Croix-des-Noues belongs to the "moulin cavier" family, a windmill design specific to Anjou, the region around Angers and Saumur. A cavier combines a stone tower with a rotating cap carrying the sails, typically paired with a small attached lodge or workshop at its base. This layout sets Anjou windmills apart from the classic tower mills found elsewhere in France and made them well suited to the open, wind-exposed hillsides above the Loire.

Where does it stand, and is it part of a wider group of mills?

The mill sits on Rue de la Croix des Noues, on the western edge of the village of Varennes-sur-Loire (postcode 49730). It is not the only windmill in the area: the Moulin du Champ-des-Îles still stands in the same commune, and both structures appear together under the same heritage listing for the windmills of Varennes-sur-Loire. Together they point to a village that once relied heavily on wind power for grain milling, thanks to the open exposure above the Loire valley.

What protected status does the mill hold?

Moulin de la Croix-des-Noues has been registered as a "monument historique" since 28 March 1977. The listing protects its 19th-century structure as a record of the milling traditions once common across the Loire Valley.

How can you plan a visit?

The mill sits within easy reach of Saumur by car or bicycle, a town known for its château and the Saumur-Champigny vineyards. A logical way to see it is to combine the stop with a drive through Brain-sur-Allonnes, the source of the mill's original mechanism, and a look at the nearby Moulin du Champ-des-Îles, giving visitors two Anjou-style windmills in a single outing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you go inside Moulin de la Croix-des-Noues? The mill is a listed historic monument, but there is no publicly confirmed regular access to its interior. Before visiting, it is worth checking with the Office de Tourisme Saumur Val de Loire, which keeps up-to-date information on access to the area's windmills.

What exactly is a "moulin cavier"? It is a windmill type specific to Anjou: a masonry tower topped by a rotating cap that carries the sails, often built alongside a small attached outbuilding at ground level. This form distinguishes Anjou's windmills from the standard tower mills found in other French regions.

Why did the mill stop working in 1914? Historical sources mark 1914 as the end of the mill's flour-grinding activity, which fits the broader pattern seen across France in the early 20th century, when traditional windmills were gradually replaced by mechanical and steam-powered mills.

How far is the mill from Saumur? Varennes-sur-Loire lies about ten kilometres from Saumur, making the windmill an easy addition to a day trip through the Loire Valley.