Moulin du Ruet - Chambres d'hôtes

We looked for a place to stop between Switzerland and Calais. The Moulin du Ruet was a little bit ou of the way but the picture of the Moulin and its courtyard on Tripadvisor convinced us that the place was worth the detour. We were not disappointed. The Moulin was build in the mid-16th century and was beautifully renovated 5 years ago. Upon arrival, Regis greeted us and immediately asked if we wanted a tour of the Moulin. We happily accepted and got a fascinating walk through the garden and along the stream that still drives the paddle wheel of the mill. To my delight, Regis raised the water gate and opened the water flow which set the paddle wheel in motion. He then took us inside in their open living room to show us the belt and pulley system that can still operate the grinding stone if desired. This is where we met his wife Catherine, who was preparing a mirabelle plum pie for our breakfast. The bedroom was beautiful with old wooden beams and a nice view on the garden and river. The bed was very comfortable. We left the next morning after an excellent breakfast prepared by Catherine. Regis and Catherine have 4 guest rooms which they operate as a B&B. They also have a « gite » attached to the moulin that can sleep up to 15 people (in many bedrooms) with a fully equipped kitchen. The garden is a paradise for children with a big lawn, a small bamboo forrest, a teepee with a fire pit, a donkey and several chickens.