Fontvieille: Daudet’s windmill and Barbegal

In the western Alpilles, Fontvieille combines memories of Alphonse Daudet with windmills and stone-built heritage. This photo report links the heights above the village, the old fountain and the Roman remains at Barbegal.

Daudet’s windmill in Fontvieille
Daudet’s windmill in Fontvieille
Alphonse Daudet
The church in Fontvieille
Fontvieille village
The public washhouse in Fontvieille
The public washhouse in Fontvieille
The public washhouse in Fontvieille
Daudet’s windmill in Fontvieille
Façade of the Château de Montauban in Fontvieille
Remains of Roman structures at Barbegal near Fontvieille
Channel of the Barbegal Roman aqueduct cut through limestone
Ruined arch of the Barbegal aqueduct near Fontvieille

Fontvieille and Alphonse Daudet’s windmills

Fontvieille is a little town located at the western end of the Alpilles hills, on the first hills rising above the Rhone Valley. Fontvieille is deeply connected to the writer Alphonse Daudet, who often stayed in the village. His "Letters from My Windmill" (Lettres de mon Moulin) refers to the mills that overlook the village. The most beautiful of these mills, and the last to remain in use until the early 20th century, once housed a museum dedicated to the writer, whose collection is now kept at the Château de Montauban, but there are still three others, partly ruined in the pine forest on the hills of Fontvieille. Alphonse Daudet often resided in the castle of Montauban, a beautiful building of the late 18th century, at the invitation of relatives and friends, the Ambroy family. The castle is now property of the municipality.

Daudet stayed with the Ambroy family at the Château de Montauban; he never owned a windmill in Fontvieille. The windmill associated with his name and the château are separate places to discover. Check their current opening arrangements with the municipality and tourist office before planning an indoor visit.

Facing the church of Fontvieille, Church Saint-Pierre-es-Liens, a bronze statue is dedicated "To the glory of the French Revolution", this is evidence of the struggles for influence between the Church and the secular Republic. Fontvieille had a large population of quarry workers. Limestone had been extracted here since Roman times, and the activity grew strongly in the late Middle Ages. The castle of Tarascon was built with stone from Fontvieille. The activity declined in the early 20th century with the advent of cement. One quarry remains in operation today.

The old fountain and village heritage

Fontvieille means "Old Fountain" in Provençal. This old fountain that gave the town its name still exists, it lies west of the historic centre, next to a superb wash-house, of impressive size. A hundred metres away is the Tour de l'Abbé, a defensive structure built in the 14th century by Pierre de Canillac, abbot of Montmajour.

The aqueduct and watermills at Barbegal

A few kilometres south of the village are the ruins of a Roman aqueduct, the aqueduct of Barbegal. It was a double aqueduct, one part supplied the city of Arles, another part fed a watermill whose remains are excavated: a conduit was dug in the rock, the water rushed down the slopes, turning the wheels of the mills located on the slope. It illustrates the importance of water-powered milling in Roman times.

Planning a visit around Fontvieille

The village, the windmill walk and the remains at Barbegal are separate stops. Wear walking shoes for the paths and uneven ground, and use the authorised access routes. Check the municipal heritage information for the sites you plan to visit.

The town of Fontvieille is located in the department of Bouches-du-Rhône, in the Regional Natural Park of the Alpilles

Accommodation in Fontvieille

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website of Fontvieille : www.fontvieille.fr

Sights and activities in Fontvieille

Mill and museum Alphonse Daudet
Barbegal aqueduct and watermills
The Vieille Font
Church Saint-Pierre-es-Liens
The Tour des Abbés
The Grand Rue & Le Planet
The wash house
Santon fair mid-November

Getting to Fontvieille

GPS coordinates N 43°43'32'' - E 4°42'34''