Three spaces...
In fact, the Maison de l'Eau site offers three natural and, in a way, cultural spaces to discover and understand.
The Gentil Museum
In the 15th and 16th centuries, the mill was operated by the Gentil family, hence its name.
It was originally a fulling mill, which was used to make cloth. The woven pieces were hit by wooden hammers, called fullers, in a kind of trough filled with hot water, crushed clay... and urine, later replaced by carbonate! (Unusual, isn't it?).
The objective was to felt the fabric, and the operation was very long and repeated several times.
Then came the treatment with the carder, drum furnished with heads of thistles, to soften the fabric.
From 1813, the mill became a grain mill.
In 1914, the miller of the time had a brilliant idea: he installed an alternator, which provided electricity to the village at the rate of one bulb per house.
Today, you can discover all this history on the spot, and also take part in certain activities specific to the mill like, in particular, the presentation of the "water bar".
In the former living room of the miller, a temporary exhibition room has been installed.
The peat bog of La Guette
With its 23 hectares, it is the largest peat bog in Sologne, with an exceptional flora and an unusual fauna. You can discover it by yourself using a path on duckboards, with explanatory panels and educational terminals.
You can also take part in a guided tour to better understand the very important role of the peat bogs.
The pond of Mr. Gentil
This is the third cultural space of the place, with a great diversity of environments. The rustling of the water of the Barangeon, a small river of first category, will wash your mind of the noise of the urban world, and you will also be able to discover a bamboo grove, or to fish in the pond accompanied by the birds...
Moulin Gentil
Route de Bourges
18330 Neuvy-sur-Barangeon
Phone : 02 48 51 66 65
https://www.lamaisondeleau.org/
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