Windmills in France

The Moulin de Chesnay in Moutiers en Beauce Last week-end I had a pre-wedding shoot in the charming village of Gif sur Yvette and from here my wife who very ably doubles as my assistant and second shooter and myself headed to the department of Eure-et-Loire, region of Centre-Val de Loire. We have friends there in the village of Moutiers en Beauce. Don’t bother trying to find it with a GPS it’s too small a village. Google maps can find it ok. It’s a village like many in the region, anonymous and untouched for centuries. With only 244 inhabitants waking to the dawn chorus is a special time of day. No sirens, no traffic, no pollution just the sound of happy birdsong and the aroma of strong coffee. I’m up! Now I have a thing for windmills. Not sure why? It was love at first sight! Windmills have been around for about 2000 years the earliest form being created by Heron of Alexandria, a Greek engineer in the 1st Century AD. It was further developed in Persia now known as Afghanistan. Then the clever Dutch developed it even further and increased it’s efficiency and usefulness from producing peanut oil, flour and paint colours for the Dutch masters. In the region of Eure-et-Loire every commune had at least 2 windmills but most were destroyed with the Franco-Prussian war and WWII. Then with modernity and more efficient ways of producing flour the handsome and long serving windmill was only used for grinding barley oats for pig food. Today some devotees are keeping them alive. The windmill of Chesnay (Moulin de Chesnay) was constructed in 1770 and is classed as a historic monument. The 3 men who are always there are really very welcoming and ready and willing to answer any questions you may have. They know this windmill intimately and maintain it meticulously. They never ask for money but there is a suggested fee of 2€ and if luck is on your side you may leave with a bag of freshly ground flour. I did and the crepes were great! There are several windmills in this region but if windmills are not your thing and you just want to experience some real peace and quiet well this area is for you. The villages are spotless and the buildings well maintained and the scent of glycine, lilac and roses will have you stopping often to soak up the scent. If like me you enjoy photographing butterflies and insects this place is heaven. You can also stock up on honey and fresh veg. The best of it though is to feel the warm sun on your face, smell the flowers in the pure fresh air and when the sun is high you can take shade under a windmill. These windmills and their villages are worth making the detour if you’re on your way to visit the chateaux of the Loire valley. Contact myself Kevin Hayden for a guided tour of the region.