As the water flowsand with the wind

Mills to visit near Figeac

Perched on hilltops or nestling on the water’s edge, the windmills and watermills of Quercy invite you to take a trip back in time. Witnesses to ancestral farming know-how, they transformed harvests into everyday products: grinding cereals (wheat, corn, rye, buckwheat) to produce flour, pressing walnuts for oil or apples for cider. Some still open their doors to you. From the Seyrignac mill to the Vitrac mill, discover these places steeped in history, where skills and traditions are still passed down from generation to generation.

The windmill

de Seyrignac

Perched high above Figeac, with a superb view of the Monts d’Auvergne, the Seyrignac windmill is a star of the local landscape. With its majestic wings turning in the wind, it proudly dominates the Lot countryside. Lovingly restored by its owner, this 15th-century mill is one of the few windmills still in operation in the Lot region, where you’ll discover every stage of flour production, from the millstone to the sack. It’s a lively, educational visit that plunges you into the daily life of millers of yesteryear.

Interior of the Vitrac Mill — ©Vitrac Mill|OTGF

The water mill

de Vitrac

Nestled in the heart of the picturesque Cerles valley in Aveyron, in the commune of Capdenac-Gare, the Vitrac mill is a jewel of Quercy’s milling heritage. Once one of only six active water mills in the valley, this historic 14th-century mill today boasts two rare and perfectly preserved octagonal millstones. During guided tours, Mr Lambin, the passionate owner, enthusiastically shares the fascinating history of this traditional watermill and offers milling demonstrations, revealing the secrets of the ancestral process of transforming grain into flour.

Visit

did you know?

Medieval engineering still visible

Some of the watermills in the Figeac region still retain architectural features from the 13th century. Broken arches, cut stone and water supply channels bear witness to the ingenuity of medieval builders. The Surgié mill in Figeac is a remarkable example.

An ingenious hydraulic system

Tributary mills used a free horizontal wheel that was simple, aerial and, above all, water-efficient. A clever local solution for areas with low or irregular flows!

Not just flour

Grain mills were first and foremost used to grind grain, but they were also used to press walnuts for oil, saw wood, whip cloth and power forges. A true multi-purpose factory before its time.