Moulin de Pont des Vents

Moulin de Pont des Vents is a historic water mill in Montfleur, a small commune in the Jura department of eastern France. It sits on the banks of the Suran river, right next to the bridge that gave it its name, along the route of the old Roman road linking Lyon and Besançon. Today it operates as a working ecomuseum, where visitors can watch the milling machinery in action and buy bread baked on site.

How old is the mill?

The earliest written record of the mill dates back to 1486, a date also carved into the building's door. In its earliest form, the mill ran on wooden wheels turning simple stone grinders, producing flour for nearby farms and households.

Why is the mill linked to gaudes flour?

Maize was introduced to the Bresse and Jura regions in the 1640s, and local millers quickly adapted to grind it. Roasted maize kernels were milled into a flour used to prepare gaudes, a traditional porridge-like dish still associated with the region today. Moulin de Pont des Vents was one of the mills producing this flour, and that role made it an important part of the local rural economy for centuries.

What changed in the 18th and 19th centuries?

In the 18th century, the original wooden wheels were replaced by two hydraulic turbines, boosting the mill's output considerably. By 1822, it had become the largest and most important of the three mills operating in Montfleur at the time. Production of gaudes flour and animal feed flour continued without interruption until 1975, when the mill's industrial activity finally ceased.

How did the mill become a museum?

After the last working miller died in 1995, his wife Léonie donated the building to the commune of Montfleur so it could be preserved as a museum. A team of local volunteers spent three years cleaning the turbines and cataloguing the tools and equipment left inside. Following a six-month restoration, the mill reopened to the public as an ecomuseum in July 1998. The building is now listed among France's protected historic monuments.

What can visitors see today?

Visitors can watch the mill's original mechanism at work — the wheels, gearing, and stone grinders, all driven by water — as it processes grain into wheat flour and the traditional gaudes flour, still made using the old methods. The on-site shop bakes bread and pastries in a wood-fired oven, available for visitors to buy. The mill also runs bread-making workshops for children, school groups, families, and adults, making it a popular stop for educational visits in the region.

Where exactly is the mill located?

The address is 7 route du Suran, 39320 Montfleur. It sits in a quiet rural stretch of the Jura countryside, close enough to the river that a visit pairs easily with a short walk along the banks.

Frequently asked questions

Is the mill still operating? Yes, as a working ecomuseum — the water-driven wheels and stone grinders still mill wheat and gaudes flour, though production today is craft-scale and demonstrative rather than industrial.

What is gaudes flour? It's a flour made from roasted maize, used since the 1640s to prepare gaudes, a traditional porridge of the Bresse and Jura regions. Moulin de Pont des Vents produced it continuously until 1975.

Can you buy bread on site? Yes, the mill's shop sells bread and pastries baked on the premises in a wood-fired oven.

Does the mill offer activities for children? Yes, bread-making workshops are available for children, school groups, families, and adults, making it one of the site's main educational draws.