About this place
Moulin des Mondrins is a stone tower mill standing north of Cherrueix, a small commune in the Ille-et-Vilaine department, on the shore of the Mont-Saint-Michel bay in Brittany. Together with two neighboring structures — Moulin de la Saline and Moulin de la Colimassière — it forms a distinctive trio of windmills that has shaped the skyline of Cherrueix's coastal fields for generations.
What kind of structure is it?
It is a moulin-tour, or tower mill: a cylindrical, masonry construction built from local granite, a style typical of the Breton coast. All three windmills in Cherrueix were built in a similar style and at comparable size, which makes them hard to tell apart from a distance without knowing the local layout. Moulin des Mondrins stands closest to the open coastal fields, at the edge of the polder-like landscape characteristic of the area.
Why were windmills built here in the first place?
The flat, open plain along the Mont-Saint-Michel bay has been exposed for centuries to strong, near-constant winds coming off the sea. Those conditions made Cherrueix an especially attractive spot for windmills, which local farmers relied on to grind grain before industrial mills and mechanization replaced traditional wind power in the 20th century.
How old is the mill?
Moulin des Mondrins, like Moulin de la Saline and Moulin de la Colimassière, dates back to the 19th century. The three Cherrueix windmills were listed as historical monuments (monument historique) on 7 September 1977, recognizing their value as surviving examples of the region's traditional industrial architecture.
Does the mill still have its sails?
No — Moulin des Mondrins no longer carries its wind sails, which were removed as the mill's original function faded. However, it has kept a distinctive feature at the top of the tower: a weather vane (girouette) that still points into the wind and remains one of the recognizable details of the mill's silhouette.
What is happening with the mill today?
The building belongs to the municipality of Cherrueix and is undergoing restoration work aimed at preserving its historic structure. Although it no longer operates as a working mill, it remains an important piece of local heritage and forms part of a broader trail dedicated to the region's coastal windmills.
How do you get there, and what else is nearby?
Moulin des Mondrins sits on open, flat land north of the center of Cherrueix, right next to the other two mills that make up the group. The area is a popular stop for visitors exploring the Mont-Saint-Michel bay — the famous abbey is close by, and the flat terrain and sea views make the short walk or bike ride between the three mills an easy, scenic detour.
Frequently asked questions
Can you go inside Moulin des Mondrins? The building is undergoing restoration and belongs to the municipality, so access to the interior may be limited — check current local information before visiting.
How is Moulin des Mondrins different from the other Cherrueix windmills? All three — Mondrins, Saline, and Colimassière — share the same granite tower-mill design and similar dimensions; they mainly differ in their exact position along the coastal plain.
Does the windmill still have its sails? No, the sails were removed, but the weather vane on top of the tower has survived.
When was the mill listed as a historical monument? On 7 September 1977, together with the other two windmills of Cherrueix.
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