The Fonclause Mill Estate

In the old days, the mill was used by the monks of the Loc Dieu’s abbaye which is nearby. The mill history is linked to the abbey’s.
The mill power was generated by an uphill large water reservoir (lake) fed by 3 springs. This activated 2 millstones to grind the grain, but also enabled the of use other tools such as a saw, thanks to an ingenious pulley and belt system.
The Fonclause mill is at the beginning of a 7 mill series (7 Mills Valley). The mills worked in succession in order for each one to benefit from the stream of water released by the uphill mill. This provided a long lasting energy source.
The estate is 35 hectares (about 70 acres) and includes 3 lovely houses: the mill which is the owner’s house, the recently restored barn, where you will stay. It will comfortably host 8 to 10 persons, the pigeon loft, a nice little house which is presently the painter’s workshop.
This private valley is surrounded by wooded slopes. Many tree species are growing there: multi-centenarian oak trees, 40 000 pine trees such as Douglas, Larizio or Black Austrian pine trees, poplar trees, cedar trees, or a local species named « Vernhe ».