Construction of mill 1725 (≈ 1725)
Date engraved in the cellar
1914
Cessation of activity
Cessation of activity 1914 (≈ 1914)
Likely decommissioning of mill
milieu XIXe siècle
Replacement of wings
Replacement of wings milieu XIXe siècle (≈ 1950)
Sails replaced by Berton wings
1982
Complete restoration
Complete restoration 1982 (≈ 1982)
Reassignment per owner
21 décembre 1984
Registration MH
Registration MH 21 décembre 1984 (≈ 1984)
Protection as historical monuments
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
Windmill in Les Basses-Terres, including its mechanism (Box ZR 12): registration by order of 21 December 1984
Key figures
Information non disponible - No name cited
Sources do not mention any characters
Origin and history
The Windmill des Basses-Terres is an emblematic building located in the commune of Rosiers-sur-Loire, in the department of Maine-et-Loire in the Pays de la Loire region. Built in the 1st quarter of the 18th century (date of 1725 engraved in its cellar), this mill tower is distinguished by its stone structure and its traditional mechanism, including two pairs of horizontal wheels operated by a wind engine. It was originally equipped with sail wings, replaced in the 19th century by Berton-type board wings, before it ceased its activity around 1914.
The tower of the mill rests on a terrace housing a vaulted dome cellar, while its swivel roof, operated by a guivre (rotating mechanism), testifies to its engineering of the period. Disused after 1914, it was restored in 1982 by its current owner, returning to its primary function: to produce flour. The house and outbuildings, redesigned in the 20th century, complete the whole. Since 1984, the mill has been protected as historical monuments, including its mechanism and structure (Cadastre ZR 12).
Its history reflects the evolution of milling techniques in Anjou, moving from sails to boards, then to decommissioning before a heritage renaissance. Today, it embodies both an artisanal heritage and an example of the preservation of rural industrial heritage. The GPS coordinates are located precisely at 362 Rue des Basses Terres, on the territory of the merged municipality of Gennes-Val-de-Loire.
The region of the Pays de la Loire, marked by a strong milling tradition, had many similar mills, essential to the local economy before mechanization. These buildings served not only to grind grain, but also as gathering points for rural communities. Their decline in the 20th century coincides with the industrialization of agriculture, making their preservation all the more valuable in understanding past lifestyles.
The registration of the Basse-Terres mill in 1984 is part of a broader dynamic of valuing the Angelvin heritage, carried by local actors and institutions such as the DRAC. The archives of the Merimée base and sources such as Monumentum document its architecture and history, providing a resource for researchers and industrial history enthusiasts.
