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Origin and history

The Tour Mill is a windmill located in Ivry-sur-Seine, Place du 8 mai 1945, whose exact origin remains uncertain. Although interior stones are dated 1415 and 1680, the first recorded mention dates back to 1674, when Claude Bosc, king's adviser, became its owner. This ordinary mill, linked to the seigneury of Ivry, appeared on maps of the royal hunts in 1730 and 1740, and belonged to the Marquis of Beringhen in 1703. His milling activity declined in the 19th century, ceasing around 1830.

In the 19th century, the mill, abandoned, deteriorated after serving as a hay reserve or workshop for vanniers. Threatened by demolition in the 1960s, it was saved in 1975 by the municipality and an association. A titanium construction site began in 1976: the 315-ton tower was moved by 35 metres on hydraulic cylinders. The work, including the laying of the roof and wings in 1981, was completed in 1991 with the complete restoration of the milling mechanism.

Listed on the inventory of historical monuments since 1979, the Tour Mill is now the only windmill remaining in the Val-de-Marne. Open to the public on the third Saturday of each month, it bears witness to the industrial and seigneurial history of Ivry-sur-Seine, while symbolizing the efforts to preserve local heritage in the 20th century.

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