The trail of the Moulins de Daudet

8 points of interest

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  Patrimony and history

  The mill Sourdon

  Sourdon The mill was built shortly after the revolution, around 1791 as attested by a former deed, making it the oldest of the four mills. Today the mill is nicknamed "fell" because he was the first to lose its roof and wings. It has been restored into a belvedere in 2015.

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  Flora

  The almond tree

  The almond tree is the first tree of the year to bloom, it is the symbol of the arrival of spring. Originally from the Middle East, it arrived in France in the 5th century and became, with the Olive Tree, the symbol of Provence. Nevertheless, its number has greatly diminished in recent decades Actions are now being put in place to permanently reintroduce it into the landscape of the Alpilles.

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  Patrimony and history

  The mill of Daudet

  The mill Ribet or St Peter was built in 1814 and functioned until 1915, when the wheat was requisitioned for war. It is the newest of the four mills of Fontvieille. In 1935, it was the mill, which is now the best preserved, as the Society of Friends of Alphonse Daudet restores. This is why it is commonly called Daudet's windmill.

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  Savoir-faire

  the APSIF

  You will have the opportunity to cross APSIF (Assistant Prevention and Forest Fire Monitoring) during your walks in the summer. From 1 June to 30 September, a prefectural decree regulates access to forests department. The APSIF are there to inform you all, to educate you or remind you that the mass is prohibited because of the risk of fire too. Take time to listen to them, they are there for you!

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  Flora

  Grey-leaved cistus

  Grey-leaved cistus is the sweetest of all wild cists, especially because of its petals which give the impression of being crumpled and which inspire its denomination. It is found especially near limestone rocks, at the foot of the massifs. The five petals gather around a heart characterized by its yellow color. You will find this little flower, which rises less than 50cm from the ground, on the edge of the path between the mills.

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  Patrimony and history

  The mill Tissot Avon

  The Tissot-Avon mill is the most eastern of the four near the Castle of Montauban. The latter was a privileged collection of Alphonse Daudet. He himself also said, referring to the mill: "I came to the mill consider the book I would write later". Its activity ceased in 1905, when its last owner, Trophimus Avon miller die. municipal property since 2015, has been completely restored in 2016.

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  Water and rivers

  Irrigation Canal of the Baux valley

  major landmark of the local life, the irrigation channel of the Baux valley which carries water from the Durance, Eastern massif to Fontvieille, was put in water for the first time on July 3 1914. With a flow rate of 3.8 m3 / s, the main channel and secondary network filioles irrigates about 2,800 hectares of farmland south of the Alpilles. It allowed the sustainable development of diversified agriculture that has shaped and still shapes the landscape.

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  Patrimony and history

  Saint-Pierre-ès-Liens Church

  In the classical style, the parish church of Fontvieille, Saint Pierre-ès-Liens has two bell towers. Its construction began in 1695, the old parish church having become too small to accommodate the inhabitants of the village. From 1790 and throughout the post-revolutionary period, the building was transformed into a communal hall. It regains its original vocation in the early nineteenth century and its second tower was built in 1866, which explains the difference in style.