Moulin de l'Épinay, Tower windmill in Mauges-sur-Loire, France
The Épinay mill is a stone tower mill standing 19 meters tall, built with the traditional structure these buildings needed to house their grinding systems. Inside, gears, shafts, and millstones work together to process grain into flour.
This mill was built in 1822, a time when such structures formed the backbone of local grain supply. It comes from an era before mechanical mills grew larger and were later powered by steam.
The mill shows the skill of the millers who worked here, refining their craft across generations to serve the local farming community. Visitors can see how this place held practical importance in people's daily lives, turning grain into the flour they depended on.
Access is through guided tours that show how the mechanical systems work and move grain through the building. Visitors should expect to climb several flights of stairs to see the inner rooms and machinery.
The millstones and gears inside still function today, allowing visitors to watch the original machinery at work as it transforms grain. This is rare, as most older mills survive only as museums with non-operational systems.
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