Le Moulin de Cézille

The Cézille Mill, known as the “Gaud Mill,” tells an important part of the history of the Bresse region through its machinery and a small museum created by a team of enthusiasts.
The Cézille Mill, also known as the Gaud Mill, is powered by the Reyssouze, an iconic river in the Bresse region that was once lined with 37 mills—one every two kilometers! As a result of the region’s extensive grain farming, many of these mills date back to the Middle Ages. This is true of the Cézille Mill. However, the earliest written record dates back to 1667. It is typical of Bresse mills, meaning it straddles the river.
Owned by the Gaud family since 1880, it ceased operations in 1977 and was subsequently sold. Restored by a team of passionate volunteers, it has now been converted into a small museum. While its large waterwheel remains the most impressive feature, visitors can also explore the horizontal sawmill, the flour mill, the power plant, the 1931 Ruston & Hornsby engine (all of which are still in working order), the miller’s quarters, and the exhibition hall featuring paintings, photographs, posters, and ceramics.