Moulin des Gués

Moulin des Gués is a historic tower windmill in Fontaine-Couverte, a small commune in the Mayenne department. Standing beside a country road just outside the village centre, it is more than a scenic landmark — it remains a working mill where flour is ground the traditional way to this day.

When was the windmill built?

The mill dates back to 1824, a period when tower windmills formed the backbone of local grain milling across Mayenne. It is built over three levels in the stone tower style typical of the region, topped by a rotating cap carrying the sails. In 1870, the owners raised the tower to fit Berton-type sails, a more efficient sail design that made better use of the wind and boosted milling output.

Why is this mill unusual for the department?

Moulin des Gués is now the only windmill in Mayenne that still operates in its original function, actually producing flour rather than standing as a static monument. It mills buckwheat (sarrasin), a grain long tied to the culinary traditions of western France. The building was listed as a historic monument in 1989, and three years later, in 1992, it underwent a faithful restoration that brought both its structure and its milling mechanism back to working order.

What happened to the mill in recent years?

In 2013, one of the mill's sails was damaged, limiting its ability to operate at full capacity. Repairing it required raising funds, and the campaign took nearly three years before restoration work was completed in 2016. That community effort, backed by heritage preservation groups, allowed the mill to return to regular milling.

Who leads the visits, and what will you see?

Tours are led by a descendant of the original milling family, who still carries on the craft passed down through generations. It's a rare chance to watch, up close, how wind power turns into ground flour: the sails catching the wind, the grinding stones inside the tower, and the final bagging of buckwheat flour. Visitors also get a sense of how tower windmill technology evolved over two centuries of use.

When can you visit Moulin des Gués?

The mill sits on Route de la Blinière (also referred to as Route du Moulin) in Fontaine-Couverte (53350). It is typically open to visitors on Sundays and public holidays, from 2pm to 6pm. On other days, a visit can be arranged in advance by phone. It makes a fitting stop for anyone touring Mayenne who wants to pair industrial heritage with the department's rural scenery.

Frequently asked questions

Does the mill still produce flour? Yes — it is the only working windmill in Mayenne, producing buckwheat flour that visitors can buy on site during their visit.

When was Moulin des Gués built? The mill was built in 1824 and raised in 1870 to accommodate more efficient Berton-type sails.

Do you need to book ahead? On Sundays and public holidays the mill is open without reservation (2pm–6pm). On other days, it's best to call ahead and arrange a time.

Who explains the mill's history during a visit? Tours are guided by a descendant of the milling family, giving visitors a personal, firsthand perspective on the site's history and craft.