Saint-Grégoire Windmill

Saint-Grégoire Windmill is an old stone windmill that was first built in 1808 from local fieldstone. After the original fell out of use it was carefully taken down and rebuilt in 1993 beside the village church using the original stones. So what you see today is essentially the same old mill in a new spot. It is one of the few old windmills left in Quebec. The simple stone tower is quite photogenic with its lovely texture in the rough grey stone. You can get quite close to the windmill which is ideal for a strong vertical shot, or you can step back and frame it against the sky. The grey stone warms up nicely under a low sun, so early morning or late afternoon gives it the most character, while an overcast sky keeps the stonework soft and even. The mill also acts as a museum with a small interpretation centre on the local Acadian history inside. The quiet village makes the windmill easy to reach, and the surrounding park lets you take your time and experiment with angles. (Saint-Grégoire, Bécancour, Québec)