The Petit Moulin des Vaux de Cernay is transformed into a cultural restaurant with terrace (78)

Le Petit Moulin des Vaux de Cernay has been transformed, and now boasts an attractive terrace-restaurant, without losing its cultural aspect, as the indoor hall now hosts a number of fine art exhibitions. This spot, well known to walkers, Sunday picnickers and bikers zigzagging through the Yvelines, is now even more attractive.

Often closed, the historic building, once known as the Moulin de Hotton in 1207, has been given a new lease of life, much to the delight of walkers who flock to the area for a green stroll. The current building, extensively remodeled in 1586, has stood the test of time, first as a mill until the 1880s, then as an inn.

Le Petit Moulin des Vaux de Cernay is now a cultural restaurant, where we can eat and drink on the one hand, and enjoy ephemeral exhibitions in a historic, bucolic setting on the other.

The Petit Moulin des Vaux de Cernay, which has been awarded the " Heritage of Regional Interest " label, has recently reopened its doors as a cultural restaurant, thanks to an initiative by the Département des Yvelines. Inaugurated on June 5, 2024, this emblematic site, built in the 13th century, now offers a unique experience combining relaxation and cultural mediation. Caroline Leite, president of the association La FallArtGalerie, and Jérôme Gauliard, manager of Héritage Passion, are the architects of this innovative project.

Renovation work has enabled the mill to be refurbished to accommodate a modern kitchen, a restaurant and a museum space dedicated to temporary exhibitions.

For the first exhibition, entitled " À Cheval ", the gallery highlights works by local artists such as Christophe Charbonnel, Laurence Domenech, Jean-Louis Sauvat and Myriam Saux, celebrating the 2024 Olympic Games and the equestrian events to be held at the Château de Versailles.

Restaurant Oleum Papa, , meanwhile, offers a variety of dishes from croques-monsieur or madame and sandwiches to refined desserts. Specialties include duck parmentier with parmesan shavings and tarte tatin with Madagascar vanilla ice cream. The children's menu features dishes such as penne bolognaise and salted butter caramel sundaes. The originality lies in the fact that you can eat while admiring real works of art on display.

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Menu - A la carte :

Jérôme Gauliard, known for his passion for culture and gastronomy, sees this project as an exceptional opportunity. He expresses his pride in contributing to the renaissance of this historic site: "To have lunch around works of art and books, all in the multi-century site of the Petit Moulin, is extraordinary ".

We tried our hand at relaxing on the terrace with deckchairs, a creamy hot chocolate and a cold drink, all lulled to sleep by the sound of the waterfall on the side of the mill. A guaranteed change of scenery.

Le Petit Moulin des Vaux de Cernay, located in Cernay-la-Ville in the Yvelines department, is open from Wednesday to Sunday, from 11 am to 7 pm. The restaurant, currently open for lunch, also plans to open its doors in the evening as soon as the sun comes out. In the meantime, enjoy the terrace and deckchairs between showers... This is a real gem to discover, combining relaxation, culture and gourmet pleasures.