Moulin à vent de Rairé, Historic windmill in Sallertaine, France
The Moulin à vent de Rairé is a windmill with a stone tower and Berton sails, standing on a low building set within the marshlands of Vendée. The structure combines an older tower base with mechanical sail systems added over time to improve grinding capacity.
The building was constructed in the mid-16th century as a feudal mill serving the local manor. Major upgrades followed when the tower was raised and mechanical sail systems were installed to adapt to new technologies.
The mill represents a craft tradition tied to the Vendée marshlands, where local families have maintained milling knowledge for hundreds of years. Today, the space shows how this work shaped daily life in the region.
The mill opens during specific seasons and offers guided tours to explore how the machinery functions. Check ahead for visit times since hours vary throughout the year.
The building holds the distinction of being one of France's oldest continuously operating windmills, still powered by wind after generations of use. This unbroken heritage of wind-powered operation across centuries is exceptionally rare among mills of its type.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
