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Origin and history

The Westmolen mill, whose name means "West Mill" in Flemish, is a wooden pivot mill located on Guet Hill in Naours, Somme department. Although its initial construction period was indicated as the sixteenth century in some sources, it was actually built in 1795 in Stavele, Belgium. This mill was acquired in the 1960s by the owner of the Underground City of Naours, disassembled and rebuilt on its current location. It has now been protected as historical monuments since 30 March 1976, but is no longer functioning.

Prior to the 17th century, mills already existed on Guet Hill in Naours, serving as both production sites and watchtowers to alert in case of danger. These mills disappeared during the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648), a conflict that ravaged much of Europe, including the northern regions of France. The Westmolen, although more recent, perpetuates this tradition of windmills on this iconic site, while at the same time showing architectural exchanges between Flanders and Picardia.

The Westmolen mill is distinguished by its Belgian origin and its turbulent history. Originally built in West Flanders, it was moved to France in the 20th century to be integrated into the domain of the Underground City of Naours, a major tourist site of the Hauts-de-France. Today, only external sound is accessible to the visit, offering material testimony of traditional construction techniques and cross-border cultural exchanges. Its inscription as a historic monument underscores its heritage importance, despite its non-functional state.

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