The milling place of Barbegal is the biggest and best preserved place of this type in the antique world. F. Benoit discovered it between 1937 and 1939. excavations and recent works have given this unique achievement a new dimension in the knowledge of ROMAN ANTIQUITY.

Barbegal is located in FONTVIELLE, a little town near ARLES, in the south of the "pene" hills. The slope is 60 m long with a decline of 30 per cent. The water, after running over the arches of an AQUAEDUCT called "L'aqueduc du MOULIN"(Moulin means mill) crossed the rocky hills through a canal and got to the top of the hill. Then, it took two different ways, forming two streams, with a series of millstones placed one under the other. Huge wheels of 2,20m diameter turned thanks to a system of basalt stones set in the center of the place. The field below was a wheat field and flour was ground on the spot supplying the neighbouring town of Arles.

This really interesting testimony of the past lies on a private property so that few people know it.

As you can see in the photos, such a place is worth visiting.