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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Clône wind turbine is a Bollée wind turbine, installed in 1902 in the commune of Pons, Charente-Maritime. It is distinguished by its structure consisting of two vertical wheels, each with blades surrounded by rims and attached to a cast iron core. The ensemble is mounted at the top of a stone tower that also serves as a water castle. This ingenious system, which is always operational, incorporates an automatic disorientator (Lebert system) to orient or slow down the turbine according to the force of the wind.

The construction of this wind turbine was initiated by the winemaker Ferdinand Laroche, who wanted to modernize the family estate inherited at the end of the 19th century. The aim was to draw water for domestic consumption and distillation of wine products. The mechanism, designed by engineer E. Lebert, represents the technical outcome of Bollée wind turbines, with a large diameter turbine. The work, which has remained unchanged since its creation, was classified as a historical monument in 2006 and labeled a 20th century heritage.

The site includes, in addition to the wind turbine itself, a tower, wells, a basin and the entire mechanism, all protected by ministerial decree. The precision of its system, combined with its exceptional state of conservation, makes it a unique testimony of the industrial wind engineering of the early 20th century. Its location in Pons, in a wine-growing context, illustrates the adaptation of renewable technologies to the agricultural needs of the time.

The Clône wind turbine is in line with the technical innovations promoted by the Bollée family, known for its steam engines and wind turbines. The Lebert system, integrated into this installation, demonstrates a significant advance in the automation of wind turbine mechanisms, allowing fine regulation of the power generated. This industrial heritage, still in working order, offers valuable insight into sustainable energy practices before the general electric age.

The protection of this monument in 2006 underscores its historical and technical importance. The classification covers not only the wind structure, but also the associated hydraulic elements (basin, well), forming a coherent and functional whole. This status makes it one of the few Bollée wind turbines still in place and operational in France, reinforcing its heritage and educational interest.

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