Our story, from a farm to three houses

1990, the family farm

In the beginning was the family farm. Nestled in the hollow of a Vexin valley, featuring an old water mill, a forge, a brickyard and various residential or agricultural buildings, the property represents a unique ensemble. A place rich in potential.

The year is 1990. Faced with this heritage, Patrice and Marie-José feel the call of nature, experiencing the desire and even the need to give flora, fauna and water a prominent place once again.

A project matures, which will define the spirit of the future “Groupe Moulin de la Forge”: to bring life back to these places steeped in nobility and history, to inhabit them, to welcome guests there, to give them a function once more. A function that remained to be defined...

As part of their professional activity, Marie-José and Patrice had the opportunity to visit seminar venues. And always the same observation, that of classic venues, stacks of more or less equipped meeting rooms and standardised bedrooms. Without warmth and without soul.

The idea then takes shape: the family farm will become a unique, atypical seminar venue, the Moulin de la Forge.

The objective: to offer a moment of life, filled with emotions, during which participants re-root themselves, anchor themselves, experience happiness and freedom, and reconnect with the living world. The experience is one of reconditioning, of deep revitalisation.

The Moulin de la Forge comes to life

From the outset, the concept appeals. The Moulin offers a unique experience: the spectacle of nature invites daydreaming and arouses emotion, the magic of the place works... These early clients will remain loyal to the venue, and many of them still visit it regularly today. This early success confirms the owners in their vision, and pushes them to go further.

Then begins a long and meticulous work of heritage renovation. The buildings are renovated with respect for ancient know-how, with local craftsmen, in a quest for authenticity and excellence. Wrought iron furniture is custom-made, paying homage to the old forge. The stone floors come from old Burgundian residences. Later, to increase the hosting capacity, small barns destined for destruction are dismantled in the Pays de Bray and reassembled at the Moulin by Compagnons du Devoir. Brick occupies a prominent place, consistent with the old brickyard present on the estate.

The exteriors are not left out. The water is channelled and finds its place again, a pond is created, the river set on the hillside. An apple orchard is created on the advice of the Rouen pomological association. Around forty old varieties are planted, eating apples and cider apples. A master cider maker is chosen to produce the Moulin's cider and apple juice: a gold medallist in competitions, he applies methods from viticulture to cider production.

Further on, wetlands are created to promote biodiversity. During a dredging of the pond, the earth is deposited on a hillside. Remarkably fertile, it inspires the creation of a kitchen garden of about 1 hectare, which will inevitably be managed according to the principles of permaculture, and will supply the Group's kitchens.

Several varieties of trees, some of them remarkable (sequoias...), are planted on the opposite hillside. To mow all this grass, the owners choose original solutions: an English breed of sheep, which has the characteristic of not eating tree bark, and a herd of hinds and deer.

2003, the Manoir des Brumes

The experience is enriched, but the spirit remains the same. And the success is undeniable, so much so that hosting capacity runs short. Patrice, Marie-José, since joined by their children, then set off in search of new venues. Always with the same desire to recondition, to rehabilitate, to re-inhabit, in a word, to revitalise. And to contribute to the richness of a territory, on the borders of the Vexin and the Pays de Bray.

Thus, in 2003, the Group acquires the Manoir des Brumes. This former 12th-century Templar commandery is a strong, simple and harmonious place that exudes an intense emotion. After a deep breath, one perceives the life force there and can then be available for an exceptional seminar. Substantial work is undertaken: the courtyard is reopened, the river rediscovered. The generous nature is preserved. The Manoir reconnects with the village and is now permanently inhabited. Of course, perfectly equipped meeting rooms and welcoming bedrooms are created.

2007, the Domaine de Rebetz

A few years later, in 2007, it is the Domaine de Rebetz's turn to experience a rejuvenation. The estate, which housed a magnificent castle before the revolution, is nothing more than a shadow of its former self. The old seigniorial farm is entirely rehabilitated, the courtyard is planted with greenery, water finds its place again. Employees mobilise to restore the dovecote. Life resumes, at last, and success is achieved. One finds there the warmth of a friendly house, a climate conducive to reflection and relaxation in the heart of preserved, verdant and peaceful nature.

Whether it is the Manoir des Brumes or the Domaine de Rebetz, the same exacting standards as at the Moulin de la Forge are applied to the renovation and development work of the sites, while cultivating their singularity. Practicality and emotion. Modernity and tradition. Refinement and simplicity. To ultimately make them authentic, unique, beautiful and inspiring places that blend old stones and natural spaces. Perfectly arranged spaces, designed from the outset to host seminars and give rise to the right ideas.