About la Couscouillette

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This beautiful domain was just a ruin when we found it it  in 1977. 

We  now live in the house with our two guest houses which are ancient mills dating back to the  13th   century.

       The Two Mills of the Couscouillette

These two mills were the built in the 13th century and described by Pierre Cabirol, a priest researching the history of Montlaur in the ancient archives of the Abbey of Lagrasse, as the first windmills in the South of France. The part on Catharism in 'Montlaur-En-Val' (1926), as the book is called, has a section dedicated to the Couscouillette mills. It makes fascinating reading. You can buy it online at https://www.editions-lacour.com 

They were built in the aftermath of the Cathar wars, in 1280. Simon de Melun, who had been put in charge of the village by the King of France, ordered them to be built. He rented the land of the Couscouillette, paying 12 bushels of grain, to be paid at 'Saint Michel' (on the 29th of September) once a year. Only water mills existed in those days in the South of France. Montlaur had no large rivers, so the villagers ground their wheat at home, using two flint stones, attached one on top of the other by a metal bar. Simon de Melun had been on Crusades to the East and seen windmills operating there. One mill was to be used for wheat, the other for coarser grains.. 

The mills were burned down during the 100 days war, in 1360, possibly by the Black Prince, and resurrected 80 years later by the Count of Malacoste.  To this day the original flint grinding stones are lying outside the Pointed Roof Mill.