Description

There are many renovated windmills in Provence. They are quite logically on hills and ridges and today these places are often far away. This also applies to the Moulins de Paillas windmills on the road between Gassin and Ramatuelle.

One of the windmills was professionally restored and has been operational again since 2002. It is a classic Provençal mill from the 19th century. The structure and function is very similar to the Windmills of Régusse. The name goes back to the last miller, Jean Baptiste Paillas.

Views

The windmill can only be visited from the outside. Free guided tours take place on Sundays from April to October and between 10:30am and 12:30pm. On themed weekends there are longer opening times including flour milling if the wind permits: end of May, end of June, end of August and end of September.

Access by public transport

Unfortunately there is no way to reach the mill by public transport. However, the town of Ramatuelle can be reached by bus and from there you can also hike to the windmill: On lonely paths from Ramatuelle to the Paillas windmill.

Access by car

The mill is located on the peninsula of Saint Tropez and on the road between Gassin and Ramatuelle. The fastest access, also from Hyères via Cogolin, is via the large roundabout in La Foux. This is the major crossroads on the roads between St. Tropez and Cogolin and between Sainte-Maxime and Cavalaire.

From there we first drive in the direction of St. Tropez. At the second bulky roundabout (in the middle there is a garden center) we turn off towards Ramatuelle. We drive first between vineyards. After another but smaller roundabout we turn right towards Gassin. When we get to the village, we first go up, but then, at the only option left, we go down towards Ramatuelle. So we pass under the village of Gassin and after that we keep this direction and go up through the forest.

After a few minutes and at least as many curves, you come to a spacious but wooded saddle. The windmill is on the left.

Coming from Lavandou or Cavalaire, at the upper roundabout in the village of La Croix-Valmer, turn right towards Gassin. Before the village of Gassin, turn very sharply to the right towards Ramatuelle. We are now on the road described above.

Coming from St. Tropez you drive via Ramatuelle to Gassin. The mill is therefore on the right at the saddle.

Parking site

There are no designated parking spaces. However, you can stop along the streets, even in the dead end.

There is a picnic bench under the shady trees.

Although we are quite high up there is not a wide view because of the forest.

Although we only see one windmill, the French name Moulins names several. There were at least four mills in the area. The stump of another one can be seen behind under the trees. You can see more remains of the mill in the private areas on the small street behind the renovated windmill.