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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The mills of Mont-des-Alouettes are emblematic windmills located at the Herbiers in Vendée ( Pays de la Loire). Perched at 231 meters above sea level, they meet a chapel built in the 19th century. These buildings, two of which remain today, symbolize the region's industrial and agricultural heritage, with a history dating back at least to the sixteenth century.

According to the sources, these mills were erected in the sixteenth century. One of them originally belonged to the Lord of the Ementrue before being acquired in 1564 by John of the Herbiers, Lord of the Extreme. At their peak, eight mills operated on the site, exploiting the powerful winds without resorting to the technical innovations of engineer Berton. Five of them were destroyed during World War I.

The neighbouring chapel, partly financed by the Duchess of Angoulême (daughter of Louis XVI) in 1823, was inaugurated in 1828 during the passage of the Duchess of Berry. The remaining two mills, restored by the Commune des Herbiers and the Conseil départemental de la Vendée, were listed as historical monuments on 27 May 1975. One of them received the roof of a mill of the Ardilliers of Beaurepaire, illustrating the efforts to preserve this heritage.

Today, the Mont-des-Alouettes mills, a communal property, continue to mark the Vendean landscape. Their recent restoration and ranking reflect their historical and cultural importance, while offering an exceptional panorama of the region. Their history thus combines seigneurial heritage, industrial memory and religious devotion.

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