OLI’S MOLI
Medieval village nestled in the heights on the Verdon Gorges road, Bargemon is one of the most beautiful and picturesque sites in Dracénie. Nicknamed "Pearl of the Haut Var", its heritage is one of the most important in our region. Abundant rivers, underground or not, supply the village and its surroundings. Fountains and wash houses enchant us on every street corner. Many mills still existed a few decades ago. The extraction of different minerals, flour milling and olive cultivation were the primary activities of the village with livestock breeding and cereal cultivation.
The Pré-Conduit mill located in the Doux valley is one of the many mills that lined the Usines canal. Already included in the inventory of national heritage ordered by Napoleon III to Prosper Mérimée in the middle of the 18th century, it was one of the large mills which combined the extraction of olive oil and gasoline. Jewels of our village and our traditions, the years have damaged it.
We cannot abandon this communal mill.

The Bargemon olive mill
RESTORATION OF THE MILL AND VALORIZATION OF THE OLIVE GROWING HERITAGE
Revival of the mill: towards a living museum
"Initially, this municipal mill was shared by three municipalities: Bargemon, Claviers, and Seillans. In good years, we
crushed up to 120 tonnes of olives here,” explains Catherine.
Almost in ruins in 1979, part of the Bargemon oil mill was restored by the Riou Olive Oil Syndicate, under the name Coopérative de l'Est-Varois (1).
When this cooperative dissolved in 2019, “its members in the prime of their life found no one to take over. The town found itself alone, with its mill.”
Creation of the Moli d’Oli association
In 2020, the oil mill operates thanks to municipal employees and volunteers, who are then mobilized to help the miller.
“But it had become difficult for the town hall to send municipal employees to the mill for two months,” continues
Catherine.
It was at this moment that the association Moli d’Oli is born in April 2021. And gets busy. Objective: mobilize troops, rehabilitate everything.
"We signed an agreement with the town hall. Knocked on the door of the Heritage Foundation to benefit from sponsorship. We made ourselves known here and there. We even went so far as to contact the production of the TV show La treasure map so that the mill has visibility."
Moli d’Oli is also a recent winner of the Heritage Loto (our previous editions).
The association estimates the amount of the rehabilitation work at 700,000 euros, divided into two tranches. "The first includes
the frame, the millstone, the water wheel, the underworld, the retaining wall..."
Without forgetting the renovation of the canals, because the water no longer reached the paddle wheel. At least until
recently. "We managed to get a net flowing again during Heritage Days! It was magical..."
Looking for volunteers
The second phase will be launched in 2026. It will consist of restoring all the interiors, starting with the renovation
reessence to transform it into a living museum.
"We will explain how it worked. We will continue to provide training for people who wish to take care of their olive trees. We will set up school visits around crushing, but also manufacturing workshops around olives, exhibitions, etc. It’s a place that must live!”
Please note that the association invites anyone who wishes to join its ranks.
“All goodwill is welcome. We also need plumbing skills,
masonry, framework…”
the Association
