Moulin Richard de Bas, Paper mill museum in Ambert, France.
Moulin Richard de Bas is a paper mill in Ambert that uses water-powered machinery to transform cloth scraps into handmade sheets. The site displays original spaces where production unfolds step by step, from preparing raw materials to drying finished paper.
The mill began paper production around 1300 and operated continuously for over 600 years before production stopped in 1938. After closure, an association rescued the site and brought it back to life by reviving the craft for visitors.
The mill bears the name of a master miller and draws visitors who want to experience traditional papermaking firsthand. The spaces show how people across generations used water and simple tools to create paper.
Visitors can join workshops to make paper themselves or browse exhibitions showing techniques and history. The place is easy to access and also has a shop selling handmade paper products.
The building itself holds a rare detail: the water power driving the machinery comes directly from the Dole river, which has fed the site for centuries. This makes the production process a true example of medieval engineering that still works today.
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