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Heritage classified

Origin and history

The Saline Mill is a tower windmill, built in granite in the 19th century. It is located in Cherrueix, Ille-et-Vilaine department, Brittany. This mill is distinguished by its proximity to two other mills in the commune: the Colimassière mill and the Mondrins mill, all aligned along the bay of Mont-Saint-Michel. Today, it houses the House of Terroir and gastronomy, while remaining communal property.

The mill was listed as a historical monument on 7 September 1977, along with the other two mills in Cherrueix. Although it has lost its wings, it retains its directional guivre, a mechanism for directing the roof to the wind. A house on the raised ground floor, built in the early twentieth century, is located below the mill, which is currently being restored.

The operation of the Cherrueix mills was favored by the regular winds of the Bay of Mont-Saint-Michel. Their construction in the 19th century is part of a local milling tradition, although their use is probably earlier. These mills, of the same size and architectural style, bear witness to the economic importance of milling in this coastal region, where agricultural and maritime activities coexisted closely.

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