Moulin du Verger, Historic paper mill in Puymoyen, France

Moulin du Verger is a two-storey pale stone and stucco paper mill in the Eaux Claires valley at Puymoyen, south of Angoulême. Its steep tiled roof carries a tall rectangular stone chimney at each end of the main facade, which has a small-paned shuttered window on each floor; a long low wing with a brown tiled roof extends to the left behind low stone walls.

Created in 1539 under Francis I, Moulin du Verger was among the first paper mills in Angoumois. The Dutch paper merchant Deric Jansen had it entirely rebuilt in 1635. By 1669 it had four paddle wheels and two vats. In 1761 the Marquis de Montalembert tested the Hollander beater here, a rotating cylinder replacing the stamping hammers; it was adopted for industrial production a year later at Petit-Montbron downstream.

Papermakers here maintain handcraft traditions passed down through generations, relying on the river's water quality for their work. Visitors can watch how raw materials are gradually transformed into high-quality paper now used for restoration work and special printing projects.

The site is open to visitors year-round and offers activities such as papermaking, bookbinding, and restoration work. It is helpful to check ahead about which workshops are available on specific days, as these may vary depending on the season.

In 1761 the Marquis de Montalembert tested the "pile hollandaise" here, a rotating cylinder that replaced the battery of hammers used to crush rags. The system had been developed in 1682 in England and Holland and was installed for industrial production a year later at the Petit-Montbron mill downstream.