Southeastern windmill on La Montañeta

The southeastern windmill on La Montañeta is a historic mill in the municipality of La Oliva, on Fuerteventura, listed as a cultural property of the Canary Islands. It stands on the small La Montañeta hill, where wind blowing across the island's interior was harnessed for centuries to grind grain.

Where exactly is this windmill located?

The mill sits on La Montañeta hill, in the municipality of La Oliva, in northern Fuerteventura. Its coordinates are 28.622443, -13.913719. The surrounding landscape is typical of the island's interior: dry, open, gently rising ground where wind moves largely unobstructed, making it a natural power source for local farmers for generations.

Why were there windmills on La Montañeta?

Like several other hills on Fuerteventura, La Montañeta was home to more than one windmill. Local tradition points to two mills having stood in this area, built at different times by families involved in grain milling. The structure described here is identified as standing in the southeastern part of the hill, distinguishing it from a second, nearby mill. Clusters of two or more windmills within short walking distance of each other were common across Fuerteventura, an island that once counted roughly a thousand wind and water mills in operation.

What was the windmill used for?

Fuerteventura's windmills were built mainly to grind grain, above all for producing gofio — the toasted flour that remains a staple of traditional Canarian cooking. A typical island windmill consisted of a stone or masonry tower, a rotating cap fitted with sails that turned to face the wind, and a gearing mechanism that drove millstones inside the structure. Beyond their practical function, these mills were also social hubs, places where farmers gathered while waiting for their grain to be milled.

What is the site's status today?

The windmill on La Montañeta is registered as a cultural property (bien de interés cultural) in the municipality of La Oliva, giving it formal recognition as part of the island's historical heritage. In recent years, La Oliva's local authorities have pushed initiatives to document, restore, and protect the region's disappearing mills, recognizing their value as witnesses to Fuerteventura's agrarian past. Many such structures on the island survive only partially, which makes recording and safeguarding what remains at sites like La Montañeta an important part of preserving local historical memory.

How do you get to the windmill?

La Montañeta lies within La Oliva, one of the main municipalities in northern Fuerteventura, which also includes the popular resort town of Corralejo. The hill's surroundings are classic interior-island terrain — dry, stony ground with wide open views — making it a worthwhile stop for anyone tracing Fuerteventura's windmill heritage, a route that also includes the better-known Molinos de Villaverde in the same municipality.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is this windmill located? On La Montañeta hill, in the municipality of La Oliva, northern Fuerteventura (coordinates: 28.622443, -13.913719).

What was the windmill used for? Grinding grain, primarily for producing gofio, the traditional toasted Canarian flour.

Was this the only windmill on the hill? No — local tradition records more than one windmill in the La Montañeta area; this particular structure stands in its southeastern part.

Is the site protected? Yes, it is registered as a cultural property in the municipality of La Oliva, recognizing it as part of local historical heritage.