Domaine de La Couscouillette

(best viewed holding Smart Phone sideways)

13th Century Stone Windmills

Mentioned in Times Online August 12, 2009 as one of 31 most unusual holiday homes in Europe

.........'Sit outside to watch the sunset as your nostrils fill with the aroma of mint and lavender'. .....

 

Pointed Roof Mill

Sloping Roof Mill

 

 

Here you see

a fairy tale place in the

south of france.

13th century mill

click to see how we renovated the mills

for a video of the Pointed Roof Mill interior, pool and grounds click here

for a video of the sloping Roof Mill interior, pool and grounds click here

i

charming video of both mills and surroundings gifted by a guest is on https://youtu.be/DqCAPIk6BxI

 

The Two Mills of the Couscouillette

These two mills were the built in the 13th century and described by Pierre Cabirol, a priest researching the history of Montlaur in the ancient archives of the Abbey of Lagrasse, as the first windmills in the South of France. The part on Catharism in 'Montlaur-En-Val' (1926), as the book is called, has a section dedicated to the Couscouillette mills. It makes fascinating reading. You can buy it online at https://www.editions-lacour.com They were built in the aftermath of the Cathar wars, in 1260. Simon de Melun, who had been put in charge of the village by the King of France, ordered them to be built. He rented the land of the Couscouillette, paying 12 bushels of grain, to be paid at 'Saint Michel' (on the 29th of September) once a year. Only water mills existed in those days in the South of France. Montlaur had no large rivers, so the villagers ground their wheat at home, using two flint stones, attached one on top of the other by a metal bar. Simon de Melun had been on Crusades to the East and seen windmills operating there. One mill was to be used for wheat, the other for coarser grains..

 

The mills were burned down during the 100 days war, in 1360, possibly by the Black Prince, and resurrected 80 years later by the Count of Malacoste. The original flint grinding stones are lying outside the Pointed Roof Mill to this day, an inviting seat for our guests.

For more on the history of the Mills of the Couscouillette please click on History of the Couscouillette Mills

HEATED POOL 9.50m by 4m

gorgeous terrace

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

tennis court

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

domain of la Couscouillette

over the years we planted trees

 

 

for info contact Margaret moulinsdelacouscouillette@gmail.com