When Deirdre McGlone and Marc Gysling moved to France, it was time for a lifestyle shift. Leaving behind a successful hotel business in Donegal, Ireland, they set their hearts on creating a unique holiday experience in the Lot, southwest France as Janine Marsh discovers. After owning and managing the legendary Harvey’s Point Hotel in Donegal for thirty years, Deirdre and Marc know all there is to know about making guests happy. When they decided that they wanted to downsize and fulfil a dream to live in France they knew that they also wanted to carry on making guests happy and when they spotted a 16th century Mill with a working Gîte for sale on the internet, they had a feeling straight away that this might be the one.
“This area chose us, we didn’t even look at a map” says Deirdre. “For a long time we had harboured a dream of having a wee place in France when the kids went off to college. In 2020, on a stormy Valentine’s Day in Donegal – I remember it well, a video of the Mill came up, I just fell in love with it there and then. Oh bingo, I said, we’ll go there and see it for real.”
The couple hopped on a plane to Toulouse, hired a car and drove to see the Moulin sur Célé which is not far from the town of Cahors.
“It was pouring with rain, but we could see how stunning and dramatic the scenery is via the Causses road as we drove. We arrived at the Mill and it was love at first sight. We drove to the office of the local notaire there and then. We knew we didn’t want to look at anything else. It ticked all the boxes, even though we had no boxes!”
Deirdre and Marc opened Le Moulin to welcome guests in 2023 and have had rave reviews for their laid-back ambiance, warm welcome, and unique country-meets-contemporary vibe. Having grown Harvey’s Point from a 20-bedroomed guest house to a grand 64-room hotel with a world-class reputation for luxury stays combined with genuine Irish hospitality and excellent cuisine, Deirdre and Marc have applied the same loving attention to Le Moulin.
Le Moulin is set in its own private parkland with vineyards in Saint-Sulpice, a perched village clinging to the limestone cliffs and peppered with medieval ruins and semi-troglodyte dwellings. Just 4 km from the stunning village of Marcilhac, and just a little further on is Sauliac sur Célé which has a great beach for swimming, and the town has oodles of charm. “The nearest big market is around 15 minutes” away says Deirdre, “We are remote here but it’s easy to get out and about, we’re surrounded by nature, the most beautiful countryside, gorgeous villages, vineyards producing excellent Malbec wine, it really is a little bit of paradise.”
Le Moulin holiday rental consists of the 3-bedroomed Miller’s House and the 2-bedroomed Tower. As soon as they saw the property, Deirdre and Marc could tell it has huge potential. “Le Moulin was already being managed as holiday accommodation” says Deirdre “and it was liveable, but not up to our standards.”
Design duo
“The buildings were structurally sound, so we didn’t have to knock down much or change things too much. Nothing is ever easy when you’re dealing with an almost 500-year-old building, but it was simple to plan everything out. All the bedrooms offer en suites, but we put in all new plumbing. We also had new windows fitted and air conditioning. We felt that Le Moulin was crying out for a new dining room, somewhere people could gather and truly enjoy the spectacular local cuisine and wines. We’ve recently added a cocktail bar to the Tower and a comfy lounge” says Deirdre.
The couple wanted to retain the history of the property and keep the original period features, the grand exposed beams, open fireplaces, and creamy stone walls, but added modern touches and designer pieces to make for a luxurious stay.
The renovation took almost three years and was slowed down due to Covid restrictions. “The pace was what is was” says Deirdre, “you learn to blend in with the pace of the builders – good builders are worth their weight in gold, and we wanted it right, not quick. It took longer that we thought, but it was worth it.”
That respect for the building, its age and charms, the environment and the local traditions and customs shows in every part of Le Moulin from the stunning swimming pool to the accessories such as African Kikoy dressing gowns in every room “perfect for swanning about in the mornings with a coffee as you drink in the glorious views and the atmosphere” and even portable Bluetooth speakers which you can take to the Mill’s beach area, croquet lawn or tennis court.
“It’s all about quality and detail” says Deirdre. “There’s a terrific salvage yard about an hour from us and they have wonderful things like vintage tiles, old beams and building materials. All the rooms at Le Moulin are light and airy. We’ve created a place for people to really relax. There’s a small library and writing desk in the Tower. There are gorgeous al fresco dining areas – and we have candelabras and tablecloths for guest use. It’s absolutely magical at dusk when the candles flicker and the birds sing, you hear the flow the river gently passing by and the air is so fresh, there’s nowhere quite like this.”
“Moving here was a lifestyle decision, and it’s given us more time together as well as with our three kids. We’re in the process of renovating the Wine Maker’s barn (Le Malbec) and the Miller’s cottage (La Carral), both of which will open next year as holiday rentals for couples. They can be rented individually or as part of Le Moulin collection.”
“We’re also bringing the old vineyard back to life and we’re hoping to have our first harvest this autumn. Marc has just completed a wine making course! Having our own wine on site is a great gift to give guests. Future plans include the creation of a bespoke wellness area overlooking the valley which can facilitate yoga classes or massages. We look forward to hosting retreats with wellness themes – this place just exudes wellbeing. Being able to share this special place with others is just the icing on the cake. We feel rejuvenated here and so do our guests.”
Discover the dazzlingly lovely Moulin-sur- Célé and organise your own rejuvenating stay in one of France’s most beautiful corners: lemoulinsurcele.com
