Please leave the initial value of this field. These mills have a long history dating back to the 17th century, and their unique architecture makes them a historical gem of the region. The Moulins du Villars estate was built using the natural rocks of the region, giving it a raw, rustic mineral look.
The estate is located on the banks of the Latti River, which once powered the mills' water wheels. While the mills once produced flour and oil, the estate was transformed into a luxurious residence and welcomed high society from the late s. Subsequently, in , the property was completely transformed into what it is today, a haven of peace and quintessential discretion and privacy. Les Moulins du Villars is a property closely linked to the history of its region.
Between the virtues of its spring and its connection to Princess Grace Kelly, it arouses infatuation and attention. The Villars Spring has been an important site for thousands of years. Its spring emerges from the base of an impressive yellow limestone cliff and irrigates the entire garden. Ancestral beliefs attribute druidic virtues to this water which is said to be curative.
If today the location of the mills is synonymous with tranquility, isolation and calm, there was a time when this location meant the opposite. Indeed, if it was chosen to build this set of mills at this place, it is because at the time the main road passed there: the only road connecting Nice to Digne and to the Haute Provence. Until the construction of the road through the gorges of the Var valley at the end of the 19th century, all traffic passed through Gilette and Le Villars.
What is now a pleasure trail through the property was once one of the busiest mule trails in the region. The mill - now the main villa - has been rebuilt several times since Roman times. The oldest part of the present building was built in the 14th century; the most recent part was rebuilt in the 18th century. This mill would have been one of the largest industrial buildings in the area, with storage facilities, mule stables and an inn. During the last centuries, the mill processed all types of crops depending on the season, but it was best known as an olive oil mill.
