moulin de Longchamp

Moulin de Longchamp is a historic windmill standing on the grounds of the Longchamp racecourse in the Bois de Boulogne, in Paris's 16th arrondissement. Unlike two other Parisian windmills covered elsewhere — the Moulin de la Galette and the moulin de la Charité, both on Montmartre — this one has nothing to do with the artists' hill. It stands in open parkland along the route des Tribunes, and for well over a century it has been associated with horse racing rather than milling.

Where did this windmill come from?

The story goes back to the Middle Ages. The windmill was built in 1312 on the grounds of the Abbaye de Longchamp, an abbey founded in 1255 by Isabelle of France, daughter of King Louis VIII and sister of Louis IX (Saint Louis). It was originally a post mill — a wooden structure that could be rotated on its axis so the sails always faced into the wind. Its job was purely practical: grinding grain for the nuns living in the abbey, with no decorative or symbolic role whatsoever.

What happened to it after the French Revolution?

The mill's fate followed that of the abbey itself. In 1792, during the Revolution, the nuns were expelled from the convent and its buildings put up for sale. Three years later, in 1795, most of the abbey's structures were torn down. The windmill was the one building to survive that wave of demolition — today it stands as practically the last visible trace of the medieval abbey that once occupied the site.

How did the mill change in the 19th century?

In the 19th century, the original wooden post mill was replaced by a stone tower mill — a sturdier and more imposing form than the earlier timber structure. That rebuild coincided with a new chapter for the site: in 1857, the Longchamp racecourse opened right next to it, quickly becoming one of France's leading horse-racing venues. From that point on, the mill stopped grinding grain and took on a purely ornamental role, becoming a recognizable landmark of the racecourse, visible from the grandstands and from the surrounding avenues of the Bois de Boulogne.

Can visitors go inside or get close to it?

The moulin de Longchamp currently stands empty and is not open to the public. It is enclosed by a fence, so there is no direct access to the structure. The best view comes from the route de Suresnes, the road running alongside the racecourse grounds — this is where visitors and joggers most often photograph the mill's stone tower rising above the park's greenery.

How do you get there?

The mill sits deep within the Bois de Boulogne, on the grounds of the ParisLongchamp racecourse, so the easiest way to see it is to combine a walk or bike ride through the park. It works well as one stop on a broader tour of the Bois de Boulogne — nearby attractions include the Jardin d'Acclimatation and the Fondation Louis Vuitton, making it easy to plan a longer outing in this part of Paris.

Frequently asked questions

Is the moulin de Longchamp the same windmill as the Moulin de la Galette on Montmartre? No, they are two entirely different structures. The Moulin de la Galette stands on Montmartre and is tied to Paris's artistic history, while the moulin de Longchamp sits in the Bois de Boulogne on the grounds of a horse-racing venue, with a distinct history of its own.

How old is the windmill? The original structure dates back to 1312, though the current stone form dates from the 19th century, when it replaced the earlier wooden post mill.

Does the mill still grind grain today? No. Since the 19th century it has had no working function — it now serves purely as a landmark and a historic feature of the racecourse landscape.

Where's the best place to see it if the racecourse grounds are off-limits? The route de Suresnes, which runs alongside the racecourse enclosure, offers the best view — the mill is clearly visible from there even though direct access to the building itself is closed off.