Moulin des Landes

The Moulin des Landes is a nineteenth-century tower windmill standing in the commune of Bégrolles-en-Mauges, in the Maine-et-Loire department, roughly 15 kilometres north of Cholet. It belongs to a large family of "moulins-tours" (tower mills) that have shaped the landscape of western Maine-et-Loire, and the Mauges area in particular, since the fourteenth century.

When was the mill built?

The Moulin des Landes was raised between 1834 and 1850 at the initiative of its owner, Pierre Godefroy. The new tower was built just a few metres south of an earlier mill that had already stood on the site since the late eighteenth century. Replacing an older mill with a taller, more modern tower nearby was a common pattern in the Mauges region, where the terrain was well suited to wind power and successive owners frequently upgraded existing installations.

What does the mill look like?

The building stands out for its height, rising four storeys under a conical slate roof — a silhouette typical of tower mills in this part of France. Its windows, topped with full round brick arches, are set in two opposite bays, one facing north-west and the other south-east. This paired arrangement of window bays on either side of the tower is a recognisable feature of local mill architecture.

How did the mill operate over the years?

In its earliest phase, at least until 1865, the mill was fitted with canvas sail-type wings that drove only a single pair of millstones. During the following decade the tower was most likely raised by two additional storeys and re-equipped with Berton-style wings — an enclosed, more efficient wing design widely used on nineteenth-century industrial mills — which allowed it to drive three pairs of millstones at once. This upgrade substantially increased the mill's milling capacity.

When did milling activity stop?

Milling ceased shortly after the Second World War. Around 1950 the wings were removed and the top of the shaft that had carried them was taken down. Despite this, the internal machinery was left in place rather than dismantled, making the mill an important surviving witness to the region's nineteenth-century milling technology.

Is the Moulin des Landes a protected monument?

Yes. The mill was registered as a historic monument (monument historique) by order of 24 June 1975, under reference PA00108972. The listing protects the tower and its architecture as a record of nineteenth-century wind-powered milling in Anjou.

What other windmills can be seen in the Mauges area?

The Mauges region, which includes communes such as Valanjou, Coron and Tillières, is known for its dense concentration of tower mills dating back to the fourteenth century. Nearby, visitors can look for other preserved examples, including the Moulin de l'Épinay in La Chapelle-Saint-Florent and the Moulin de Bène in La Pommeraye — together forming a kind of windmill trail that traces the evolution of milling technology across Anjou.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is the Moulin des Landes located? In the commune of Bégrolles-en-Mauges, in the Maine-et-Loire department, about 15 kilometres north of Cholet.

Who built the mill? Pierre Godefroy, who had it built between 1834 and 1850 a few metres from an older mill dating from the late eighteenth century.

Does the mill still have its wings? No — the wings were removed around 1950, along with the top of the drive shaft. The internal milling mechanisms, however, were left in place.

Is it a legally protected monument? Yes, it has been listed as a historic monument since 24 June 1975, under reference PA00108972.

Are there other similar windmills nearby? Yes, the Mauges region has a rich tradition of tower mills, including the Moulin de l'Épinay in La Chapelle-Saint-Florent and the Moulin de Bène in La Pommeraye.