Description
In Saint-Léonard de Noblat, a medieval town with a UNESCO label, the Vienne River widens, caresses an island in the bow of a rock, then embraces the wisdom of the mills. Since the 12th century, water has been tamed here, guided by canals to the mills where immense paddlewheels turn. Each mill here tells the story of an era: flour mills, tanning mills and, in the 19th century, the prestigious Pouyat factory. The buildings, with their solid foundations like water cathedrals, are a blend of earth and hay cob, with the occasional brick. Today, in the large mill restored by porcelain manufacturer J.L. Coquet, an exhibition showcases the art of living and Limousin know-how. The original wheels have almost all disappeared, but one remains, a traveler from elsewhere. A place of authenticity and disconnection, where we can still sense the sharing of waters and the proud memory of mankind.
