Moulin à vent de L'Isle-aux-Coudres, building in Quebec, Canada
The Moulin à vent de L'Isle-aux-Coudres is a round stone structure with a cone-shaped roof built in 1836 and located on the west side of the island. Inside are original gears and grinding stones that were powered by wind through large blades mounted on top, creating a working mill system.
The windmill was built in 1836 by Thomas Tremblay and served to grind grain for island residents under a feudal system where people paid fees to use the mill. It changed hands several times and was protected as a heritage site in 1962, becoming one of the last of 18 original windmills in Quebec.
The windmill reflects French milling traditions brought to Quebec, visible in its round stone tower design and operational methods that became central to island life. Visitors can observe how the community maintained this craft heritage as an essential part of their livelihood and local identity.
The windmill is accessible from mid-May through mid-October, allowing visitors to view the thick stone walls, small windows, and original machinery inside. Plan enough time for a full walk around the structure and consider joining guided tours offered occasionally for groups and individuals interested in learning about traditional milling methods.
The building underwent careful restoration work, particularly to the foundations and internal mechanisms in 2012, allowing visitors to see how the grinding system originally operated. This restoration has kept the machinery functional so that visitors can actually observe grain being processed into flour using the historic windmill methods.
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