This short walk will introduce you to the mills of Daudet. Fontvieille became famous because the well-known writer Alphonse Daudet stayed here. Thanks to the Moulin de Daudet, he wrote his 'Lettres de mon moulin'. This mill now houses a museum in his honor. The route passes four tower mills and the Château de Montauban where Daudet stayed.
Distance: 3 km.
Time: 1h00.
Grade: Easy.
Type: Circular.
Gps Track: Yes.
Route description: Yes.
Wheelchair: Not suitable.
Dog: Allowed.
Height gain:48 meters.
Trail: Paved and unpaved.
Marking: Yellow dash.
Hiking shoes recommended.
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Castle of Montauban
The walk first goes to the mill of Sourdon, which has been almost completely restored. Afterwards you walk to the Daudet mill high on a hill from where you have a beautiful view of the Alpilles. After a descent, the mills of Ramet and Tissot-Avon follow. As a last point of interest you can visit the castle of Montauban.
Download PDF for route description.
Preferably in the off season.
POI 1 - Mill of Sourdon.
The Sourdon mill was built shortly after the revolution, around 1791 as evidenced by an old notarial deed, making it the oldest of the four mills. Today he is called "Le Moulin Tombé" because he was the first to lose his roof and blades. He is currently being restored and serves as a viewing point.
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POI 2 - Mill of Daudet.
The Ribet or Saint-Pierre mill was built in 1814 and worked until 1915, when wheat was claimed for the war. It is the youngest of the four mills of Fontvieille. Because this mill turned out to be the best preserved in 1935 "The Friends of Daudet" decided to restore the mill, which is why this mill is today called the mill of Daudet.
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POI 3 - Mill of Ramet.
The mill of Ramet is located on the rocky promontory overlooking the village. It was founded in the early nineteenth century. The owner Jules Ribes gave the name Ramet to the mill as a tribute to his mother.
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POI 4 - Mill of Tissot-Avon.
The mill of Tissot-Avon is the most easterly of the four mills and close to the nearby Montauban Castle. Daudet himself, referring to this mill, said: "I came to the mill to think about the book I would write later. The mill functioned until 1905, when its last owner, miller Trophime Avon, died. The mill has been fully restored in 2016.
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POI 5 - Château de Montauban.
Originally this building was a Provencal farmhouse that the owners, the Ambroy family, cousins of Alphonse Daudet, decided to enlarge it in the late eighteenth century. The writer Alphonse Daudet returned to this castle for over 30 years to stay there. In the season one can visit the castle where the Alphonse Museum is now housed.
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