Timeline

Heritage classified

Origin and history

The Bouillons Mill is a former olive oil mill built in 1762 in Gordes, Vaucluse. It is part of a Gallo-Roman site where presses already existed, partially reusing ancient pipes. This mill, with a mass of 7 tons and a length of 10 meters, operated thanks to human or animal muscle strength (hence its nickname "blood press"), without resorting to water or wind. Its vats, dug in the rock, and its original mechanism are intact, illustrating the traditional methods of olive oil production, an essential fatty body in the Mediterranean diet.

Ranked a historic monument in 1984, the mill retains remarkable elements such as a vaulted room housing the press, basins and an adjacent tunnel. It also houses archaeological remains, including ancient amphorae and oil lamps, evoking the history of olive oil and Marseille soap. These artifacts underline the central role of the mill in the local economy, linked to olive cultivation and the processing of its fruits.

Today, the site combines heritage and modernity by welcoming a journey of contemporary sculptures. This contrast between the 18th century artisanal industrial heritage and contemporary art highlights Gordes' cultural diversity, while preserving the memory of ancestral know-how. The mill remains a unique testimony of pre-industrial techniques and their adaptation throughout the centuries.

External links