Le Moulin de Mizande

The history of Mizande mill.

In about 1850 Jules Romain Alexandre Cloud, a carpenter, bought the ruined cider press in the village of Saint-Siméon. At the junction of the streams of Presles and Piétrée he constructed a cement spillway with vanes and a short canal to bring the water to the wheel of his sawmill, which he raised at right angles to the cider press. It was not until later that he added his house.

In 1955, an antique dealer and fresco teacher bought the “Moulin de Mizande” property. He restored the circular trough, the wooden mechanism, the millstone of the crusher, and the large gear with its box-wood teeth. He proceeded to embellish the place with XVII th century carved wooden panels, alcoves, fireplaces, and staircases. The “Moulin de Mizande” derives its name from the spring that used to rise in the field, not far from the one that Sanctus Simeon the Stylite created by striking the earth with his stick when he came to preach in Gaul in the IVth century.

Early in April the surroundings are carpeted by a rare form of anemone (ranunculaides) which has disappeared from the rest of the Ile de France. For this reason the Museum National d’Histoire Naturelle has catalogued the plant life on this unique site.

Le Vannetin, named Ru de Piétrée while crossing Saint Simeon, has being selected to be classified "Natura 2000". You'll be welcome to use our canoe for a romantic time on his watercourse.