Moulin de la Lande du Crac
MonumentHidden Treasure
Moulin de la Lande du Crac, located in Perros-Guirec (Département 22), is a Renaissance château built in the 16th century. The monument is currently closed to visitors.
Key facts
- Type
- autre
- Period
- Renaissance (16th century)
- Location
- Perros-Guirec, Département 22, Bretagne
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 48.8209, -3.4779
- Mérimée Reference
- PA00089385
A capped stone sentinel on the heights of Perros-Guirec, this 17th-century egg-laying windmill is fascinating for its corbelled wall with a military feel - a rare reminder of Breton milling.
History
Perched in the coastal landscape of the Pink Granite Coast, the Moulin de la Lande du Crac is one of the rare survivors of a milling tradition that has all but disappeared from this part of Armorican Brittany. Its squat, clipped silhouette, built of rough-jointed granite rubble, stands out in the bocage with a Breton austerity, more reminiscent of a watchtower than a simple country mill. What immediately distinguishes this building from other French windmills is that it is of the so-called "coquetier" type - an architectural form typical of certain coastal and inland areas of Northern Brittany, characterised by a cylindrical tower of compact dimensions. What's more, the shallow corbelled wall that crowns the tower deliberately evokes the processes of medieval military architecture, as if the miller of yesteryear had wanted to endow his work tool with a fortified dignity. The interior of the mill also holds a surprise in store: the remains of a stone staircase still survive, testifying to a structured and solid internal organisation that went far beyond the simple millstone shed. These stone fragments give us an idea of the daily life of the millers who climbed these steps to adjust the wings, keep an eye on the grain or watch the sea in the distance. A visit to the Moulin de la Lande du Crac is also a plunge into rural, industrious Brittany, a far cry from the seaside clichés of Perros-Guirec. The natural surroundings - moorland, pink granite outcrops, the changing skies of the Armor region - give the whole place an end-of-the-world atmosphere, perfect for contemplation and photography. A monument for the curious who know how to get off the beaten track.
Architecture
The Moulin de la Lande du Crac is of the so-called "coquetier" type, a characteristic feature of windmills in northern Brittany: a cylindrical tower of modest diameter, built of granite rubble with a sharp-jointed bond, i.e. with no visible mortar on the surface, in accordance with a local masonry tradition that gives the facings great visual density and remarkable resistance to the elements. The tower, which is now collapsed - its original crown, designed to support the revolving dome and wings, has disappeared - nevertheless retains sufficient height to betray its original ambitions. The most unusual and valuable feature of this building is its low-profile corbelled wall: a slightly cantilevered structural cornice that encircles the top of the tower. Technically designed to protect the base of the revolving dome from water infiltration and to stabilise the rotation of the wings, this feature is treated in a way that deliberately evokes medieval military architecture - the hoardings, machicolations and bretches of fortified castles. This formal kinship, rare in Breton milling heritage, puts the mill in an architectural category of its own. Inside, the remains of a stone staircase bear witness to the careful vertical organisation of the building: this gave the miller access to the various working levels - from the ground floor, where the grain arrived, to the upper floors, where the millstones were placed. These discreet but eloquent stone fragments now make up the bulk of the preserved interior features, inviting the imagination to recreate the buzzing activity of a mill in full operation under the winds of the Pink Granite Coast.
Related Figures
Les meuniers anonymes de la paroisse de Perros-Guirec (XVIIe-XIXe siècle), exploitants successifs du moulinLes maçons tailleurs de granit locaux (XVIIe siècle), artisans de la construction en moellons à joints vifsLes administrateurs de la statistique générale de 1844, premiers à documenter officiellement le moulin comme unique moulin à vent de Perros-GuirecLes inspecteurs des Monuments Historiques (1983), artisans de la reconnaissance patrimoniale de l'édifice
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Moulin de la Lande du Crac located?
Moulin de la Lande du Crac is located in Perros-Guirec, Département 22 department, Bretagne region, France.
When was Moulin de la Lande du Crac built?
Moulin de la Lande du Crac dates back to a period built during the Renaissance (16th century).
Is Moulin de la Lande du Crac open to visitors?
Moulin de la Lande du Crac is currently closed to visitors.