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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The meulières de Saint-André-de-Boëge are a set of seven quarries located in the Haute-Savoie department, in the commune of Saint-André-de-Boëge. These quarries, one of which is located in an erratic block called Rocher de la Gouille au Mort and the others at the foot of a cliff, are one of the most important sites for the extraction of grain wheels identified in Europe. Wheel locations are still visible, and some can reach up to 2 metres in diameter. The systematic exploitation of the site, attested by carbon dating 14, dates back to the early 13th century, although the smallest millstones date back to Roman times. Between Mont Vouan and the rocks of the Balmes, 72 extraction sites were identified, where several hundred thousand millstones were produced.

The economic activity associated with these mills was considerable: a mill extracted, delivered and installed at the mill cost as much as a house. The carriage of the wheels was carried by means of carts drawn by imposing teams (up to 4 horses and 2 oxen), called farders. This exploitation ceased in the 19th century, and the site was classified as historical monuments in 2009. A well-developed path makes it easier to visit, highlighting this exceptional industrial and artisanal heritage.

Among the particularities of the site, the mill of Saint-André presents engravings with religious motifs, especially at the bottom of a small room forming an oratory. This type of decor, particularly rare in Europe, adds a cultural and spiritual dimension to this place marked by its industrial history. The site is now owned by the municipality and is actively preserved, emphasizing its historical and archaeological importance.

The milling facilities in Saint-André-de-Boëge are part of a wider network of milling facilities in the region, including sites close to Mont Vouan. According to Alain Belmont, professor of modern history at the Université Pierre Mendès France in Grenoble, this set is a unique testimony to the organization and scale of mill production in Europe, from the Middle Ages to the modern era. The marks of tools visible on the walls of the quarries attest to an intense and organised activity over centuries.

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