The rocky coastline of Normandy and the large differences in level so characteristic of the region made an ideal location for the development of Chareauville sur Mer’s overshot watermill. Since as long ago as 1762, the Draveil family has been responsible for ensuring that the grain delivered by farmers throughout the district is ground into flour. The bakers, husband and wife Mimi and Nico Saintville, use this flour for baking all their bread.

The wooden water wheel has been turning for all these years, and is still is not ready for replacement. In the winter André looks after the blades in the time-honoured tradition of his predecessors. If any parts show signs of rotting, Lucien Chantiers van Chantiers Navals is always willing to give a helping hand, he claims to see little difference between ships wood and mill wood. André is married to Céline, a willowy lady but one who is not afraid to roll up her sleeves and get down to work. They are disappointed to only have one daughter, as much as they love Géraldines. She will have nothing whatsoever to do with the mill. She wants to be a writer. She spends all her spare time fantasising dreamily on the windowsill in her bedroom above the stream which babbles under the house.

This will mean that a hundred and fifty years of tradition will be lost and the mill will have to be sold. Laurent Avernes, the brother of Pierre from the fishmongers  "Chez Pierre" has already shown some interest, because he’s almost had enough of living together with his brother. But Giscard Ballancourt from "Boutique de Souvenir" sees possibilities in the mill too, although the true function of the mill would then be lost. Even now Léon Chailly, the husband of Anne, who runs restaurant "Deauville" , has , as photographer made some beautiful photographs of the picturesque mill. These are now being sold by Giscard and Julia Ballancourt in their souvenir shop. Gérard Potoise, Chareauvill’s artist, has also had a lot of success with his paintings of the watermill. During the years the mill has therefore become more of a tourist attraction than a supplier of flour.