Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The mill in Sannois, also known as the Montrouillet mill, is a pivot windmill built in 1759 by François Roger, a winemaker in Franconville. This rare pivot mill, considered the most important in Île-de-France, was in operation until 1866. Its central beam, carved in a three-hundred-year-old oak, reaches six metres high, and the whole weighs more than forty tons. He turned the wind into a mechanical force to crush the grain between the wheels.

Located at the top of the hilltop of Mont Trouillet, 15 km northwest of Paris, the mill offers an exceptional view of the Montmorency and Seine valleys. It is accessible at 26, rue des Moulins, and open to the public on the first Sunday of each month. The site, classified in 1934 and listed as a Historic Monument since 1975, was restored in 1976 after its acquisition by the municipality in 1939. A storm in 1999 damaged a wing and the wheel, resulting in a new functional restoration in 2008.

Nearby, the "Maison du Meunier", an old miller building restored in 1994, now houses a restaurant. A 2,050-foot vineyard, planted in 2003 at the foot of the mill, produces an award-winning wine, like the Pinot gris 2008, awarded by the Orchid d'or. The mill was also immortalized by Maurice Utrillo during his stay in Sannois in 1912-1913. A third mill, built around 1789, became a famous guinguette under the name "mill of the Galette" after 1895.

The mill in Sannois illustrates the industrial and agricultural history of the region, while remaining a symbol of local heritage. Its mechanism, its architecture and its environment bear witness to the milling techniques of the past, preserved thanks to the conservation efforts of the commune.

Future

The mill is accessible by bus. It is open to the public, for individuals on the first Sunday of each month and for groups by appointment.

External links