Le Moulin du Trel Walnut oil production near Sarlat

History of the Trel Mill

The Trel Mill, dating from the 12th century, belonged to the Château de Beynac and was a "banal" mill. This meant that the inhabitants of the Beynac seigneury were obligated to have their grain ground and their nuts crushed at the mill. In return, the Lord of Beynac took a percentage of the flour and oil.

Passionate about mills, Pascal Vidal was captivated by this mill and wanted to combine his Foie gras business with the production of walnut oil.

Upon discovering this mill, Pascal Vidal immediately had the desire and determination to bring it back from its "ashes"... And it was in 2016 that Pascal and Benjamin Vidal, his son, undertook extensive renovation and restoration work to bring the production tool back into operation thanks to the intervention of specialized companies.

Everything has been rebuilt in the authentic style to ensure the proper functioning of the entire system, powered by hydraulic force : wheel, gears, millstone, press, and heater. The bed of the old mill that supplied water to the wheel has been completely rebuilt in stone.

As soon as the tool was operational, it came "back to life"!

Presentation of the Trel Mill

The Moulin du Trel is located in a magnificent setting in the commune of Vézac in the Périgord Noir region, near Sarlat-la-Canéda. Thanks to the Vidal family, this mill, part of our heritage, is once again operational, operating in the purest tradition.

The mill derives its power for producing extra virgin walnut oil from a waterwheel fed by water held in the millrace. This millrace was designed in conjunction with the Treuil stream, which was hand-carved into the rock to a depth of 2.50 meters, allowing for a sufficient water reserve to operate the mill even during the summer months.

The Trel Mill's overshot waterwheel, with a diameter of 4.5m and a weight of 4 tonnes, is the mill's engine, driving the mechanism that enables production. It uses clean and renewable energy : the water from the Treuil stream.

At the mill, they offer free tastings of our oil.
In a verdant setting, you can stroll and discover the animals.

MANUFACTURING

At Moulin du Trel, they produce: walnut oil, hazelnut oil, truffled olive oil and walnut flour.

In the millstone of the Trel Mill, weighing approximately 800kg, we grind 20 kilos of walnuts and obtain a paste. This paste is then heated in a pan, then placed in the press where the walnut oil is extracted.

The press, consisting of a basket, is equipped with a spout to collect the oil. It allows for the extraction of walnut oil: with 20 kilos of kernels, it yields 10 liters of pure walnut oil. This oil is left to settle, and after 3 weeks is bottled, ready to enjoy!

Following the extraction of the oil, the miller recovers the walnut press cake which he places in a mill to obtain walnut flour.

This process is identical for the production of hazelnut oil.

Visit to the manufacturing workshop

Come and meet the miller, he will give you a free tour of the workshop, he will show you his manufacturing methods, a whole know-how!

Enjoy the setting: the scents of walnut oil, hearing and seeing the water of the stream that drives the wheel, discovering the millstone and the press with authentic whole walnut kernels … To witness the production, he welcomes you on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Come and taste the walnut oil from Périgord at the Moulin du Trel located in a bucolic spot in the Périgord Noir.

Open Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 12:00 and from 13:00 to 18:00.

Our animals

The Moulin du Trel has its companions : Marco, Fanny and Oscars, our donkeys, our purebred hens, as well as our magnificent peacock : perhaps he will spread his tail feathers upon your arrival!