The Old Mill of Vernon

Vernon, France

The old mill of Vernon, a half-timbered construction, lies straddling two piers of the ancient bridge over the Seine River. Several mills like this one used to be operating on the river all along the old wooden bridge. This bridge itself was built in the 12th century, the mill is probably in the 16th century. The old bridge has been destroyed and rebuilt several times in the middle age. It was very unsafe and was definitively detroyed in the beginning of the 19th century. Then it was replaced by a stone bridge in 1861.

Destroyed during the war in 1870 it was rebuilt in 1872 and then bombed in 1940. So the bridge you cross today to go from Vernon to Giverny is the fourth generation. It was built in 1955. The mechanism used to be a pending wheel like Saint Jean mill, a nearby mill now destroyed, or like the mill of Muids. Between 1925 and 1930, the old mill belonged to a revue spectacular composer, Jean Nouguès, who managed a dancing on a barge moored nearby. In 1930 he sold it to an American, William Griffin.

After the death of William Griffin in 1947 the city of Vernon tried to find his heirs but did not succeed. The mill was damaged by the bombings of 1940 and 1944. It was about to fall into the Seine River when the city of Vernon undertook its salvage. Now the old mill is a symbol of Vernon. It has been represented thousands of times by painters, even by Claude Monet.

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Founded: 16th century
Category: Miscellaneous historic sites in France

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giverny.org

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4.4/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

Dodo D (7 months ago)
Really interesting to visit, placed in an unexpected place but really worth the stop. Nice gardens for walks along the Siene and the mill itself is interesting to see.
Valeriu Ungureanu (7 months ago)
We have visited this place after visiting Claude Monet house and garden. It is an interesting edifice, like the nearby situated castle. It is an example of how to save edifices of the past and how they can create a special atmosphere in the town. A quaint medieval millhouse hovers surprisingly above the waters of the Seine. Simple and impressive. France in its entirely is a museum. I love you, France.
Su Baudrey (9 months ago)
Free to visit. Beautiful medival, Watermill
paul wellington (9 months ago)
amazing place so peaceful
Debbie Hodge (10 months ago)
Beautiful old mill is a pleasant sight to see while walking along the river in Vernon.
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