Moulin des Tours et Pont Roman Medieval monument and historic mill in Barbaste

Moulin des Tours – an iconic medieval monument of the Albret

Built between the 12th and 14th centuries, the Moulin des Tours de Barbaste is one of the most remarkable medieval monuments in Nouvelle-Aquitaine. A veritable fortress, it is now recognized as the largest fortified mill in France still in existence. Together with its 12th-century Romanesque bridge, 95 meters long, the site forms an exceptional heritage ensemble in the heart of the Gélise valley.

Formerly owned by the powerful Albret family, the mill is closely linked to the history of Henry IV, who called himself "miller of the Mill of the Towers ". At the time, the Romanesque bridge played a major strategic role: a toll bridge controlling passage over the river, it was located at the crossroads of two major historical routes, the Ténarèze (from the Pyrenees to the Garonne ) and the road linking the interior to the Atlantic Ocean.

Transformed into a fortified mill in the 14th century, the site features imposing towers, the tallest of which reaches 29 meters. This defensive architecture allowed for the surveillance of the bridge, the river, and the access points to the Albret fiefdom.

The mill then went through several lives : a flour mill, then a cloth mill in the 17th century, before entering the industrial era in the 19th century. Bought and modernized in the 19th century, the site was then equipped with steam turbines, grain silos and a spectacular trompe-l'œil Bransoulié façade.

Today, the Moulin des Tours is a must-see attraction in Albret, offering a unique immersion into the region 's medieval, industrial, and river history. A listed and protected site, it also houses the Albret Tourist Office and offers guided tours, activities, and heritage discoveries throughout the year.