Ennevelin via Le Paradis

Car park at the Moulin de Vertain in Templeuve-en-Pévèle.

(S/E) Leaving the mill, turn right onto Rue de Péronne (D19).

(1) At the bend, take the path on the left towards the fields, cross the railway line and walk past the gendarmerie.

(2) Turn right onto Rue de Fretin. After about a hundred metres, turn right and then take the first left. Pass the Helin equestrian centre.

(3) At the four-way junction, just past the Helin riding centre, turn left and join the Route de Péronne (D145).

(4) Turn left, then, 50 metres further on, turn right onto Rue d’Helin and follow it to a bridge.

(5) After the bridge, take the path on the left running alongside the Marque, then moving away from it. As you approach a street, turn left and rejoin the Marque. Continue to Rue Jean Jaurès.

(6) Turn right, continue for about a hundred metres and, after the bridge, turn left. At the end of the path, you will reach Rue de la Reine. Turn right and walk past the stadium for a few metres.

(7) Turn left, enter and walk around the Parc des Rotours.

(8) After crossing the car park of the Ennevelin village hall, turn right, pass a school and continue straight ahead at the junction.

(9) Take the small lane (sign prohibiting all motor vehicles) on the left, reach Rue Pierre et Marie Curie and turn right.

(10) Turn left onto the small Rue des Peupliers. Further on, pass on the left of a fishing pond. Continue along the path to reach Rue du Maréchal Foch.

(11) Cross the road using the pedestrian crossing, then veer to the right and walk alongside the car park entrance.

(12) Cross the Marque via the small wooden bridge. At the end of the path, turn left onto Rue de la Verte. Cross the level crossing, turn right and follow the railway line. At Paradis, follow the road to the left, then turn right at the next junction, then straight on.

(13) Turn right onto the cobbled road from Paris to Roubaix leading to the Moulin de Vertain (S/E).

An easy walk, though it may be muddy in heavy rain between (2) and (3).
At (7), the Parc des Rotours is a lovely spot. Here you can see trees planted each year to celebrate the births of the village’s children.
At (9) a typical local boat.
At (11), a moment of relaxation by the pond.

Traces of a mill appear at this site in 1328; it was a pivot mill (Moulin Viertain) belonging to Anchin Abbey. But it was certainly not this one, which has been rebuilt and remodelled several times over the years. The current brick tower is thought to have been built in the 15th century.

In 1908, following the death of its miller, the mill ceased operations; it suffered severe damage during the^First World War.

Abandoned after the Second World War, it was saved in 1973 thanks to ARAM Nord Pas de Calais. It was listed in 1978, and the tidy sum of 1 million francs was allocated to restore the mill between 1980 and 1985. Its mechanism is complete. One of its pairs of millstones comes from the Offekerque mill (the one now located in Villeneuve d’Ascq).

The octagonal central shaft is integral with the floors of the two storeys, which pivot with it; this is what makes it unique. Fifteen wooden wheels, positioned around the perimeter of the timberwork, provide support and enable the central pivot to rotate.

On the outside of the tower, three iron rings reinforce the masonry against the vibrations caused by the rotation of the roof.