Moulin Moulin is one of these places, which need to be discovered personally. Yes, of course, we had a look at the beautiful pictures. But seeing it with our own eyes was truly different. The proportions, the light, the way you move through the rooms – once you are there, you feel this unique energy.
The quite historical building has gone through different lives and yes, as the name says, it used to be a mill by the water. The new owners, Jérémy and Nicolas though, extended parts of it and integrated the pond into the whole structure.
THE OWNERS
These two hosts, Jérémy and Nicolas, are super nice. You’ve got to love them. They are always around throughout the day, and the house clearly carries their presence. Both used to work and live in Lille before, but when they discovered this property, they fell in love and took the occasion. After renovations, Moulin Moulin opened in 2022.
Jérémy is in the kitchen in the morning, preparing breakfast and moving between rooms while everything is set up. Nicolas is more in the house itself, speaking with guests, checking in, adjusting small things as the day goes on. They both do a bit of everything, and it feels natural rather than defined.
Most importantly: There is no distance between the house and the people running it. It’s the opposite of a design place made up by Parisian investors. It’s their baby and you can feel it.
HOUSE & ROOMS
Nice detail: Some rooms are named after their grandmothers: Anne-Marie, Nina, Élia and Claude, a simple personal tribute. The house has six rooms, as well as a larger cottage with two bedrooms, a living room, and a kitchen. All rooms are on the first floor, and the cottage is in a separate detached part of the house. The ground floor of the main house holds the dining rooms, a living room made for slow afternoons, and the reception.
The owners’ taste runs through everything, mixing second-hand furniture, vintage pieces, and more modern objects.
ÉLIA, one of our favourite rooms, is not the largest but feels like a 17m² cocoon overlooking the lake. It has a bed, a small writing table, a chair, and strong morning light that becomes one of its main qualities. In every room you find tea, coffee, a kettle, a French press, and vintage cups that feel slightly out of time but completely natural here.
Breakfast
Breakfast is served in the dining room and is simple, but very considered. Nothing feels excessive, just good products put together in an easy way.
There is fresh apple and pear juice, local yoghurts, homemade granola by Jérémy, butter from Le Beurre Dupont, and seasonal fruit. A cake is always there too, baked the afternoon before. You notice it as soon as you walk in because the kitchen still smells of it in the morning.
Bread comes from a nearby bakery, and coffee is made properly at the counter, with plant-based milk available if needed. You help yourself, sit down, and breakfast just happens.
Dining
In the evening, the hosts have created a well-stocked “honesty bar”. You take what you want and write it down. Soup, pasta, sardines, wine, soft drinks, simple things. If you ask ahead, Jérémy or Nicolas can also cook something from a small menu, and many people end up sharing the most famous item on the menu: the apéro board.
In summer, everything moves outside near the lake, with drinks and food as the light changes over the water. Marvelous.
Things to do
The house sits in the famous Opal Coast region, inside the Regional Natural Park of the Caps and Marshes. What we enjoyed most, though, was heading to the beach. Sainte-Cécile is just 3 km away, an easy 15-minute bike ride from the house and a nice excuse to get out for a few hours. We ended up stopping there for lunch and ordered mussels and fries, a must when you’re in the region, at Les Filles du Vent. The area is also known for its beautiful walking trails through the dunes of Mont Saint-Frieux.
But if staying at Moulin Moulin is what you came for, the garden is an activity in itself. Open and natural, with water, trees, and grasses that change with the seasons, it is one of those places where you can easily spend an afternoon without feeling the need to be anywhere else. Bring a book, find a spot, and enjoy it.
IDEAL FOR
Quiet stays, couples, solo trips, or time away to reset.
PRICES
Rooms from around €165 per night depending on season.
Booking & Contacts
Moulin Moulin
40 Rue du Ctre
62187 Dannes
France
