Moulin de Cougnaguet, Medieval watermill in Calès, France

Moulin de Cougnaguet is a fortified stone watermill built on the Ouysse, with a steep tiled roof, rough grey and tan stone walls, and two large arched openings at water level where the river flows beneath. Small windows pierce the left wall, and a wooden door on the right is reached by stone steps. Inside, the floor is paved with pebbles and four pairs of 1.5-tonne millstones are turned by wooden wheels.

Cistercian monks constructed the mill between 1292 and 1350 as part of their agricultural operations. The religious community retained ownership for centuries before the structure changed to private hands in 1778.

The mill's name appears in the signatures of millers scratched into the openings' embrasures, dated 1778, 1779 and 1907. Visitors can watch grain being ground on four pairs of 1.5-tonne millstones turned by wooden wheels during demonstrations from April to September.

The site is best visited from April through September when tours and demonstrations are offered to guests. Opening hours shift seasonally, so checking ahead helps you plan your visit properly.

The mill's defensive features are not limited to the flooded ford: two arrow slits pierce the southern facade, and the grinding room is protected on three sides. Millers left their signatures in the window recesses, dated 1778, 1779 and 1907, still visible today.