Moulin de La Brée

Built in the early 17th century, Moulin La Fontaine is one of the oldest mills on the island, and the last to have its own internal mechanism.

With its meter-thick walls and chestnut-tiled roof, it was an important mill until the early 20th century.

Like many mills, it ceased trading at the beginning of the 20th century (competition from industrial flour mills, changing lifestyles...). As time went by, the mill declined: the guivre (the beam used to turn the mill roof) was broken, the wings were reduced to a thin wooden beam, and certain parts of the mechanism disappeared (millstones, hopper, etc.). In spite of this, the mill is extremely well preserved compared with others, which are now nothing more than empty towers, or even ghost towers, where only the name of the street suggests the presence of a mill...



Today, the mill is enjoying a second life.

Following its purchase by the local authority in 2012, it has been the subject of a major rehabilitation project, with the aim of opening the site in 2023 and giving new life to a heritage that is both emblematic of the island and of French history, as a symbol of a way of life.



Today, visitors can discover Oléron's cereal-growing traditions, the mills that punctuate the island's landscape and the use of flour, through a fun, interactive museum space.



The restored mill is used for flour production. Visits must be booked in advance.