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Origin and history

The Crémeur mill, also known as the Mill du Diable, is a Breton small-foot windmill built at the end of the 15th century in the commune of Guérande, Loire-Atlantique. It stands on a promontory (the term Cremorant comes from the Breton krec'h, meaning "height"), an ideal location to capture the winds. Ranked a historic monument in 1901, it is distinguished by its neat granite masonry, its moulded corbellation, and its roof in chestnut shingles restored in the 1980s. Although lacking a mechanism today, he retains original elements such as the guivre (orientation system) and a statuette of the Virgin, linked to his legend.

The seigneury of Crémeur belonged to Tristan de Carné (1476-1536), captain of Guérande appointed by the Duchess Anne of Brittany in 1513. This historical context places the mill in a period of transition between the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, marked by the Breton influence on the region. The mill would have ceased its activity at the end of the 18th century, before being abandoned and then restored a century later. Its architecture reflects local techniques, with canvas wings and a manual rotation system typical of the mills of the time.

The legend of the Devil's Mill tells that a miller named Yves Kerbic, too poor to build his mill, made a pact with Satan: he would build the building in one night in exchange for his soul. At dawn, while there was only one stone left to lay, Kerbic placed a statuette of the Virgin in a niche and made a sign of a cross, driving the devil into a whirlwind of fire. This story, transmitted orally, earned the mill its nickname and a place in the local imagination. A stained glass window in the chapel of Pen-Bron (La Turballe) represents this mythical mill.

From a technical point of view, the Crémeur mill is a remarkable example of Breton small foot, a compact model where the narrow base expands upwards to better withstand winds. The berry-framed mouldings, the winch consoles still visible, and the niche sheltering the Virgin (the one that "feared the devil") bear witness to artisanal know-how. The restored conical roof still supports the engine shaft and the rods intended to carry the sails. These details make it an emblematic heritage of the country of Gerande.

Today, the mill is a symbol of the heritage of Gueranda, linked to both industrial history (meunerie), Breton vernacular architecture, and local folklore. Its early ranking (1901) underlines its importance, while its legend continues to attract visitors. Although permanently unavailable, there remains a visual and cultural landmark, illustrating the link between the rural communities of the past and their environment, where mills played a central economic and social role.

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