Moulin à vent de la Noue-Ronde
MonumentHidden Treasure
Moulin à vent de la Noue-Ronde, located in Coron (Maine-et-Loire), is a medieval landmark built in the Middle Ages. The monument is currently closed to visitors.
Key facts
- Type
- autre
- Period
- Medieval (11th-15th century)
- Location
- Coron, Maine-et-Loire, Pays de la Loire
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 47.1309, -0.6203
- Mérimée Reference
- PA00109063
Dressé au bord de la route stratégique de Vihiers, le moulin à vent de la Noue-Ronde est un rare exemple de tour surélevée angevine, avec sa coiffe en bardeau et ses authentiques ailes Berton remontées en 1941.
History
Standing sentinel on the hedged hillsides of Maine-et-Loire, the Noue-Ronde windmill in Coron belongs to the family of tower mills that have long punctuated the agricultural life of southern Anjou. Its distinctive silhouette - a slender cylindrical tower topped by a pivoting shingle cap - stands out elegantly against the sky over the Vihiers plain, a reminder that this area was one of the region's granaries until the turn of the 20th century. What distinguishes this mill from an ordinary rural building is the almost miraculous coherence of its mechanical system. When it was refurbished in 1941, it was fitted with Berton wings - hinged shutters patented in the 19th century that allow the angle of the wind to be adjusted from the ground - and its internal mechanism is a testament to the ingenuity of the millers of Anjou. The building's adaptability is also remarkable: it has been powered in turn by wind, by steam via a locomobile, and then by gas, illustrating three centuries of energy transitions on a single site. The tour offers a rare insight into the world of traditional milling. The millstones, wooden gears and transmission mechanisms occupy the different levels of the tower, each floor revealing a precise function in the chain of transforming grain into flour. The shingles on the headpiece, carved from local chestnut, bear witness to a traditional craft that has now all but disappeared. The surrounding countryside adds to the appeal of the site: the sunken lanes of the bocage, the clipped hedgerows and the agricultural landscapes of the Choletais make up a setting that is both authentic and soothing, ideal for a cultural stop-off on a tour of the Layon valley or the Anjou mill route.
Architecture
The Noue-Ronde mill belongs to the so-called "elevated tower mill" type, characterised by a cylindrical masonry tower of significant height, designed to carry the wings above the surrounding trees and buildings. This architectural style, which is widespread in the bocage plains of Anjou and Poitou, distinguishes these buildings from entirely rotating wooden pivot mills or simple footing tower mills. The walls, probably made of local tufa or schist rubble in the Maine-et-Loire building tradition, provide a sturdy foundation for the whole structure. The roof cap - the most spectacular feature - is made of shingles, i.e. small split planks of wood (usually chestnut) laid in flakes on an adjustable arched roof frame. This pivoting roof, operated by a tail or rudder mechanism, allows the wings to face the prevailing wind. The Berton wings, installed as part of the 1941 refurbishment, differ from conventional wings in that they have adjustable hinged flaps, allowing the wind to be varied without stopping the rotor. Inside, the various levels of the tower distribute the traditional milling functions: the drive cage with the main shaft and brake wheel at the top, the standing and running millstones at the heart of the building, and the sifting and bagging systems on the lower floors. The coexistence of wind-powered mechanisms and motorised devices (locomobile, gas generator) is a rare technical feature, making this building a true testament to the development of energy sources in rural areas.
Related Figures
Meuniers de la Noue-Ronde (XVIIIe-XIXe siècle) — exploitants successifs du site de mouture mentionné dès le XVIIIe siècleConstructeur anonyme du moulin-tour (1890) — maître maçon ou entrepreneur local ayant supervisé la reconstruction de l'édifice actuelMeunier de 1941 — exploitant ayant commandité la remise en état complète avec installation des ailes Berton et du moteur à gazogèneBerton — ingénieur ou mécanicien dont le système d'ailes articulées breveté au XIXe siècle équipe encore le moulin aujourd'hui
Tags
Nearby castles
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Moulin à vent de la Noue-Ronde located?
Moulin à vent de la Noue-Ronde is located in Coron, Maine-et-Loire department, Pays de la Loire region, France.
When was Moulin à vent de la Noue-Ronde built?
Moulin à vent de la Noue-Ronde dates back to a period built in the Middle Ages (11th-15th century).
Is Moulin à vent de la Noue-Ronde open to visitors?
Moulin à vent de la Noue-Ronde is currently closed to visitors.
