Moulin de Migé

Moulin de Migé is a historic windmill standing at the edge of the N151 national road, between Auxerre and Clamecy, in the small commune of Migé in the Yonne department, Burgundy. It is one of the last windmills in the region that can still genuinely grind flour, rather than simply turning its sails for visitors to watch.

Who built the windmill, and when?

Construction began in May 1794 on the initiative of Claude-Édouard Dautin (1763–1837), a local businessman whose name gave the mill its alternative title, "moulin Dautin." The building work was carried out by three masons from nearby Leugny, while the timber framework and sail mechanism were overseen by carpenter Mathieu Chapon, who also came from Leugny. What emerged was a typical regional stone tower windmill, whose base has survived largely unchanged to this day.

How did the mill evolve during the 19th century?

After the founder's death, ownership passed within the family: in 1830 his daughter Virginie Dautin took over, and the mill later passed to her children, known as the Degousse-Dautin family, who ran it until around 1895. It was under their stewardship that the mill saw its most important technical upgrades. In 1853 the original canvas sails were replaced with the more advanced Berton system, which allowed the sail surface to adjust automatically to wind strength, making the miller's job considerably easier. Around 1874 a steam engine was added to the mill, intended to compensate for weak wind and keep production running regardless of the weather.

What happened to the mill in the 20th century, and what is its condition today?

Once regular industrial milling ceased, the windmill fell into decline, as happened to many similar structures in the region. Its revival came only with the founding of the local association "À Tire d'Aile," which has overseen its restoration and upkeep since 1994. Thanks to this work, the Moulin de Migé is now fully operational — it can grind grain into flour on its own whenever wind speeds reach roughly 27–30 km/h or more. This makes it the only windmill left in the entire Yonne department still capable of real milling, rather than a purely decorative rotation of the sails. The mill is listed in the inventory of historic monuments, and more than 50,000 visitors have come to see it since it opened to the public.

What can visitors expect to see?

Visitors can explore the full structure of the mill, from its stone base to the sail mechanism, learn about the Dautin family history and how the Berton system works, and — under the right wind conditions — watch the mill actually operate, from the turning sails through to the grinding of grain into flour. It is a rare chance to see 18th-century windmill technology at work rather than as a static landmark.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is the Moulin de Migé located? The windmill stands in the commune of Migé in the Yonne department of Burgundy, at the edge of the N151 road connecting Auxerre and Clamecy.

When was the windmill built? Construction began in May 1794 at the initiative of Claude-Édouard Dautin, which is why the mill is also known as "moulin Dautin."

Does the windmill actually work and grind flour? Yes — following restoration led since 1994 by the association "À Tire d'Aile," it is fully operational and grinds grain into flour on its own whenever wind speeds reach about 27–30 km/h or higher. It is the only windmill in the Yonne department still capable of doing so.

Is the windmill a protected historic monument? Yes, the Moulin de Migé is listed in the inventory of historic monuments, and it has welcomed more than 50,000 visitors since opening to tourism.