Moinho de Avis

Built in 1810 and last restored in 2008, Moinho de Avis is the largest windmill in Portugal. It is found in Serra do Montejunto, which has a large number of windmills.

The "Moinho de Avis" is not only a beautiful sight, the miller, Senhor Miguel Nobre, is using the mill for what it was built for: milling flour!Miguel Nobre was originally a cabinet maker, then specialized in restoring windmills all over Portugal. When he came into possession of the Moinho de Avis (and the one next to it) he was determined to bring it back to life and use it.The milling stones never came in contact with pesticides as the mill had fallen into disrepair before these chemicals were used. He was determined to keep it like this.He is growing and milling mainly ancient Portuguese grains (Preto-Amarello, Barbela and Aveia Selvagem). Following a recipe from his Grandfather he is mixing these grains for his "Mistura de Avó" (Grandfather Mixture). When I visited the last time (May 2024) he was super happy because his "Mistura de Avó" had just been declared national heritage by the United Nations.The mill is usually open for visitors on the weekends.