But why this passion for mills?

Mills – and thus also the watermill of Saint-Jean-de-Côle – are an architectural and mechanical wonder of a craft, a technological masterpiece empowered by nature.

Constructing the mechanism is an art, and there are only few craftsman, called ‘charpentier amoulageur’, able to continue this art.

Also the craftsmanship of milling is a real art that requires professionalism and expertise.

Many centuries ago, the mill of Saint-Jean-de-Côle was designed and built by the monks of the abbey as a craftsman’s building. It was vital to the daily life of the villagers. How sad it would be that this building would become a silent witness of what had been a daily activity and source of revenue of the inhabitants of this village and site.

With its restoration we will show that history can revive. Jozef’s dream is to make this a pedagogical project that will contribute to the historical richness of the village of Saint-Jean-de-Côle. In the future this mill will ground cereals into meal and flower, and who knows, maybe one day, press oil from walnuts of the region according to the historical methods and in line with the tradition.