Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

Valmy Mill is an iconic monument linked to the Battle of Valmy on September 20, 1792, where French troops pushed the Prussians back. The original mill, destroyed on the evening of the battle by order of General Kellermann, became a symbol of the Republican victory. It was replaced by a second mill, sold and demolished in 1831.

In 1939, on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the battle, a national subscription allowed to transfer and rebuild a mill from Attiches. The works, interrupted by World War II, resumed after 1945, and the mill was inaugurated in 1947. It was once again destroyed by the 1999 storm and rebuilt and inaugurated in 2005 by Michèle Alliot-Marie, Minister of Defence.

The mill is accompanied by a memorial to the heart of General Kellermann, erected in 1821, and a statue of the general, installed in 1892. These elements, as well as the mill, have been listed as historical monuments since 1989. The site attracts visitors for its historical and symbolic importance, especially at commemorative events such as the bicentenary of the French Revolution in 1989.

The mill is still working and visiting, while a museum, designed by architect Pierre-Louis Faloci, was opened in 2011 at its foot. In 2022, the mill suffered significant damage after its wings broke, requiring repairs estimated at between €60,000 and €300,000.

The site of Valmy also includes other monuments, such as the chapel of Princess Ginetti, the statues of Miranda and Bolívar, as well as cannons installed around the statue of Kellermann. These elements recall the revolutionary and international legacy of the battle, as well as the links between France and the struggles for independence in Latin America.

External links