Mont des Alouettes, Summit and mountain in Vendée, France
Mont des Alouettes is a hill of about 232 meters high in Vendee with three windmills that shape the profile of the western French landscape. The summit offers hiking trails with information panels about local plants and animals, plus a memorial for soldiers from the First World War.
During the Vendee Wars at the end of the 18th century, the hill's mills served as observation posts to monitor troop movements. Originally seven mills crowned this summit in the 16th century before their number was reduced to the three that remain today.
The hilltop holds three windmills that have shaped the local landscape for centuries and keep traditional craftsmanship alive. These structures tell of a time when mills were gathering places for the community and central to daily work.
The trails to the summit are marked and offer different difficulty levels for various abilities. Parking is available near the base, and the best time to hike is from spring through fall when weather is stable.
One of the three remaining windmills still produces flour using traditional methods and shows how manual grinding works. Visitors can watch this craft in action and understand how mills operated for generations.
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