 |
The Town
Moulin-Neuf counts a population of 714 (at the last census) and
is the first commune of the département on the RN89 road coming
from Bordeaux to Lyons ; it is on the edge of the Libourne area,
on the left bank of the river Isle, 11km from Villefranche de
Lonchat.
It is in beautiful countryside full of deep, velvety green
patches and resembles, particularly in the spring and autumn, an
artist’s landscape with, dotted here and there, old
time-weathered, flat-tiled houses.
Hill slopes provide limitless nourishment for the vineyards
which cover them - under the guiding hand and hard labour of
those who work the vines. The land is fertile and farmed with a
variety of crops by a people close to the earth and respectful
of tradition.
A 19th century church rises from this bucolic landscape.
The peaceful, shady river Isle which meanders through the
commune is an open invitation to gentle strolling and moments of
calm and meditation. Large trees line the river and the dappled,
dancing sunlight filtered through their leaves transform the
river banks into a heavenly place for picnickers and walkers.
Anglers seeking peace and quiet are often to be found by the
riverside.
Large areas of new housing have grown up in the centre of the
commune as well as the inter-commune (with Minzac and
Villefranche de Lonchat) industrial and trading zone.
There is an all-purpose tennis and basketball hall : a
high-level basketball club with 80 members and active tennis and
cycling sections.
The 6 June 1906 law dividing the commune of Minzac and giving
birth to Moulin-Neuf has given rise to the expanding,
economically healthy commune of today. It is especially proud of
the medieval origins of the Madeleine de Brandes chapel. A
document dating from 1541 names Monseigneur Jean Durand as
priest of the chapel. The devastating wars of the sixteenth
century destroyed many places of sanctuary in this area, however.
The Magdalene de Brandes Chapel was probably destroyed in 1586
during a Catholic / Huguenot battle for possession of Minzac
castle. Without its original structure nor any surviving
medieval documents, the chapel is now relegated to the world of
legend. And legend has it that Mary Magdalene on her way to
Provence stopped and refreshed herself at a cool source in a
crook in the valley. Another legend claims that the gypsies,
being unable to get to Sainte Marie de la Mer substituted their
traditional Provençal pilgrimage with a pilgrimage here instead.
|
