Birlot tide mill

The Birlot tide mill is located on Île-de-Bréhat in Brittany and uses seawater through a system of wooden gates and a central rotating wheel to grind grain. The structure shows how tidal movement was directly converted into milling power through its mechanical design.

It was built between 1633 and 1638 under the Duke of Penthièvre's rule. Island residents were required to have their grain ground there and pay a fee for the service.

The mill is part of Breton coastal tradition, where people have long used tides to grind grain and support their communities.

You can view the exterior of the structure while exploring Île-de-Bréhat in the Côtes-d'Armor region. Visiting during different tide levels offers different perspectives on how the mechanism would have functioned.

It operated through a clever pond system that filled during high tide and released water through gates during low tide to power the wheels. This passive system required no labor and ran automatically on the ocean's rhythm.

Location: Île-de-Bréhat

GPS coordinates: 48.84740,-3.01000

Latest update: December 12, 2025 14:22