Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The wind turbine of Pargues, located in the village of the same name in the Aube (Great East region), was built between 1901 and 1903 to supply drinking water to the drinking and washing facilities. Designed by the architect Ludovic Sot, it was distinguished by its 15 meters square tower in brick and stone, topped by wooden blades of 9.50 meters in diameter, making it the largest model in France at the time. Its output was 6,000 litres of water per hour, distributed to a water tower and the washhouse located at the current location of the party hall.

In 1923, the system was completely modernized: the wooden blades were replaced by a 4.50 metre diameter steel wheel, operated by an aermotor machine from the Belgian company Van Sante-Baëtens. The concrete tanks, installed in 1911, replaced the original tank. The wind turbine will be subjected to two major storms in 1980 and 1998, the latter resulting in its permanent shutdown due to irreversible damage. Despite this, the ensemble (wind turbine, water tower and washhouse) was inscribed in the historic monuments on 28 November 2011 for its exceptional technical and heritage character.

The hydraulic mill, still in place, was the work of engineer Henri David d'Orléans. He drew water from a deep source to feed the village network. The construction reflected a technological innovation for the time, combining architectural aesthetics (stone and brick arches) and industrial performance. Today, the site testifies to the ingenuity of rural water supply systems at the beginning of the 20th century, although its operation has ceased.

Located on 3 bis rue de l'Orme, the wind turbine belonged to the commune of Pargues (code Insee 10278). Its history illustrates the technical and climatic challenges faced by local infrastructure, as well as its central role in the daily lives of the inhabitants, especially for water supply and collective activities such as washing.

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