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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The mill of the abbey of Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert, mentioned in a charter of the cartular of Gellone before 1099, was originally reduced to a feudal tower of trapezoidal plan. This almost rectangular dungeon, with five levels (milling room, attic, guard room, dovecote), also served as a refuge in case of flood or attack. The grinding wheels, operated by a diverted current, were located on the ground floor, while a narrow hose connected the vaulted floors, accessible by ladders.

In the 3rd quarter of the 12th century, the flour mill, dependent on the abbey, was built and remained active until the 19th century. The tower, devoid of its original mâchicoulis taken away by floods, was subsequently completed by a lower room with additional grinding wheels. The adjacent buildings, added in the 18th century, surround this medieval structure listed as a Historic Monument since 1926. Today, the site belongs to an association.

The mill illustrates the ingenuity of the medieval monastic hydraulic systems, combining utility function (meal production) and defence (tour-refuge). Its architecture reflects the successive adaptations, from its foundation linked to the abbey to its extended use, reflecting the economic importance of mills in Occitan rural communities. The preserved remains, like the double millstone, recall the craft techniques of the past.

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