EXCURSIONS IN ARDECHE  

In the heart of Natural reserve
Regional of the Mounts of Ardèche

THE MILL OF MANDY

The mill of Mandy is a hydraulic mill intended for manufacture :

The current mill was built in 1891 on the site of a mill much older (presence in 1464 on the register of the regards to the departmental records). The large wheel "over", of a diameter of 6.5 m driving a mechanism complexes gears (wood and metal), pulleys and belts. The mill of Mandy is equipped with an extremely interesting hydraulic network, because  the water of the three brooks is deviated and led to the lock by "béalières" dug in the ground, the rock or built.

The visit of this canal system (1 km) pleasant under the shades and freshness makes it possible by panels of interpretation to discover the local flora plus some particular practices (chênes eschabrayés").
An animated exposure makes it possible to discover the various types of wheels (wheel over, wheel by lower part, "Sagebien" wheel and  the ancestor of the wheel : The "Roudet).
A guided tour will make you discover the world of the milles and its evolution in time, you will be able to acquire the sachet of natural flour obtained by the stone grinding stones as well as the hulled grain tganks to which so many peasants survived the last centuries.

For the text and the photographs, we make a point of thanking Mr Mme Bernard, current owners.