Lesson Plans

The windmill of the Galette in Montmartre
Le Moulin de la Galette à Montmartre

Warming Up

  • How would you describe the condition of this windmill?

  • There are many products that are grinded in a windmill, can you name them?

  • Could you think of any other use for the windmill?

Vocabulary

Cultural Heritage Background

Find more information about the history of Montmartre here.

Le Sacré Coeur – Montmartre, Paris, France

Listening

Listen to the audio fragment

Thanks to its elevated position, Montmartre was once crowned by numerous windmills. They were used for grinding wheat to provide flour for the inhabitants, for pressing grapes to make wine, for crushing flowers to make perfume and for grinding materials for manufacturing. Then some millers transformed their mills into merry “guinguettes” where Parisians enjoyed themselves drinking and watching cabaret.

Reading the story

This painting from the artist Eugène Cicéri, represents the “Moulin de la Galette” was called “Moulin du Palais” in 1622. It became the property of the Debray family in 1809 and was used for flour production. It was also converted into a “guinguette” in 1870, copying the work of the neighbouring “Radet mill”. Therefore, the Debrays decided to keep only one mill: They chose the “Butte-à-fin”, which was renamed “Moulin de la Galette” around 1895.

It was visited by many painters and had its moment of glory when it was painted by Renoir in “Le Bal du Moulin de la Galette”, and also inspired “Toulouse-Lautrec” and Picasso.

Le Bal du Moulin de la Galette, Auguste Renoir

Along with the “Moulin Radet”, it is the last survivor of the thirty mills that once graced the Butte Montmartre. It is also the only one that is still fully operational. It cannot be visited from the inside and can only be seen from a certain distance from Rue Lepic, as it is located high up.

This mill represents the development and industrial transformation of the city of Paris.

Reading Comprehension

Grammar

Additional activities

Extra resources for learners

SELF-REFLECTION

How true are these statements for you?
I think the story is engaging and interesting. *
I have learnt some new vocabulary and structures. *
I have learnt about its background and culture. *
The extra resources and additional activities have made me reflect on the meaning and the implications of the story. *
I have learnt about its cultural background and history. *
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