Le Moulin de Belle Queue: Retreat to the Perfect Countryside Getaway
Set in the core of the Perche Sarthois, just 2 hours from Paris, Le Moulin de belle queue welcomes you with unmatched style and comfort. With its alluring property features, generously equipped space, an array of thoughtful touches from morning ‘til night, to enhance every moment of your stay, Le Moulin truly feels like a home away from home. A soothing experience for anyone as you enjoy the spectacular, landscaped grounds where a fire pit beckons against the backdrop of the serene greenery beyond.
Le Moulin provides the ideal vantage point from which to explore wine trails, craft breweries, and distilleries with a historic background. The house was designed by Samantha Hauvette and Lucas Madani, founders of Hauvette & Madani, an incredible design and architecture studio based in Paris. With thoughtfully integrated infrastructure, you can easily experience the thrill of this one-of-a-kind and beautiful property.
As the place piqued our interest with its glamour, at the same time it made us curious about its provenance, so we meet the owners, Lucas Madani itself and his wife Marine, to learn more about this distinctive guest house.
How did you and Lucas meet?
We met six years ago in Paris' Montmartre district, where we were neighbours. We started dating for a couple of months, but that was short-lived. Then, about two years later, I received a message from Lucas inviting me to dinner. I agreed to go, and mid-meal, he got up to steal a kiss from me. We've never left each other ever since!
Can you tell us a bit about both of your professional backgrounds?
Lucas is the co-founder of the architecture and design studio Hauvette & Madani. They've been carrying out residential and high-end hotel projects in Paris since 2010, focusing on refined Parisian interiors tinged with a patina of modernism.
As for myself, I have ten years of experience in prêt-à-porter as a communications manager. Over time, I've developed a growing penchant for decor, particularly vintage objects, finding places for them in the 21st century.
Do you live on-site?
No, we still have our place in Paris. Le Moulin was originally our private country home, but the adventure took on another dimension as the months went by. When we began to convert it into a guest house, I left my job to take care of the property. I'm around here often, but Lucas still has his work in Paris.
What drew you to this particular location for Le Moulin?
When it came to finding a country retreat, we didn't really have any specific region in mind. We just knew that we wanted it to be close enough to Paris. I'll never forget the day we first visited the place; Lucas and I crossed the gate, looked at each other, and said to ourselves, "okay, this is it."
Can you tell us about the history of the property?
It's a shame that we don't know much about this place. Everything happened so fast in the build-up to buying it. But we're making an effort to research the history. At the moment, we've been looking at Cassini maps, and we've learnt the Moulin de Belle Queue is more than 250 years old!
How did the creative process kick-off?
Wherever we are, Lucas and I have this innate need to consistently feel stimulated by the creativity of our colleagues, the architecture of a place and even its geographical location. Our initial goal with Le Moulin was to design a charming and cosy country home to host our family and friends. We wanted a dwelling that resembled us with all the modern comforts. And while it's a social hub, we still liked the idea of our guests having private suites, separate to the main living area, where they could retire.
The design process ended up being quite simple, as we used Lucas' expertise. I relay a rough idea of what I envisioned, and he'd bring it to reality. He can find solutions to problems quickly and easily, and we completed the place in just six months.
You opened amid a pandemic; how did that impact your project, if at all?
Thankfully the Covid-19 pandemic didn't really impact our project since we initially just had the house for our private use. However, that's changed as Le Moulin is now for you, your family and your friends. We're open almost year-round, closing only in January.
Where did you source much of the furnishing and artwork for Le Moulin?
At Le Moulin, the concept of slow living and sustainability dominates, and we promote upcycling. Several of the items you see come from flea markets.
I love discovering new artists on Instagram for the art, and we also try to tap into our network to find them. We have a lot of pieces by Atelier Paolo, ceramics by Alkali and photographs by Jade Sidney. Lucas is a great illustrator, and I have my mosaics displayed in the house.
What are your favourite parts of the property?
I would say the little stream outside and our living room, which opens up to nature.
What kind of guests typically come to stay at Le Moulin?
Since we only opened six months ago, it's hard to determine a more apparent guest profile. But at present, we mainly have Parisians coming over who appreciate natural beauty and are in need of a bit of greenery.
Do you host private events, like weddings?
We intended for Le Moulin to be a private, intimate space for small groups looking to escape somewhere quiet. We would love to host well-being retreats or photoshoots, but we reserve weddings for our very close circle.
How do you hope your guests experience Le Moulin?
Just like us! I like to think of Le Moulin as a memory factory, a place to reconnect with nature and share joy-filled moments with loved ones. This is what I hope our guests can experience.