The Aigremonts mill

⑬ The Aigremonts windmill
This windmill, an authentic ‘moulin cavier’, was bought by the town in 2003 and restored between 2004 and 2007.

«

To go to stage ⑭ → Back down rue de Loches (650 m) to a small roundabout, with on your left, the magnificent mansion house of la Coursicauderie.

»

The Aigremonts mill is an authentic cellar and post mill. This type of wind mill is so called because it is built over a cellar which was usually used for storage and flour dressing but also to keep wine when the miller owned vines. Built in 1848 by Jacques Bergeault, a rope maker in Bléré, it stopped working in 1877.
Doomed to fall into ruin, the Town of Bléré bought it in 2003 and restored it using traditional techniques between 2004 and 2007 thanks to volunteers. The tower or ‘massereau’ stands at 7.50 meters and supports the ‘hucherolle’ or cap, which pivots around a central shaft, the ‘post’, in order to keep the sails facing the wind.
A few meters away stand a vineyard shelter, and next to it a pressing shed. The shelter or ‘lubite’ was used to keep tools and the winemaker could also eat there.
Walking down towards the town centre, on your left is Spain lane : this former track going from Paris to Spain was used by merchants and pilgrims to Saint-Jacques-de-Compostelle.

Quiz
What is the name of the vineyard shelter ?
Find out more
1Charles Bidault square and the church of St Christophe 13The Aigremonts mill
2Le Belvedere 14La Coursicauderie
3The Foundry 15A vine lodge
4The Bellevue bank and the bridge over the Cher 16Le Grand-Logis
5Les Crespières 17Bois-Ramé
6The Cher and its needle dams 18The Monks’ house
7Chapel de Seigne 19Paul Racault space
8The cooperative and the demarcation line 20Trade and Cooperative Diary Industry
9The cemetery and its noteworthy tombs 21The lime kilns
10Bois-Pataud 22La Grisolette
11Fief Gentil and the Culoison mill 23The Chateau of Fontenay and the house called ‘du passeur’
12La Courtille wash house 24Les Grandes-Fontaines