Our History
From a medieval abbey to your holiday home: a legacy of passion.
A stay at the Domaine du Moulinage is a chance to treat yourself to a break in a place steeped in centuries of history. It all began in La Clastre, in this building that was once the former abbey of the canons of Saint-Médard.
But the true spirit of our estate was forged by our ancestor, Henri Malleval. Then a foreman at a silk mill, he acquired the property to continue the production of silk for the silk merchants of Lyon. Under his leadership, the building resonated with the craftsmanship of its workers before being transformed, under Gaston and Simone Bonnafond, into a thriving farm. Here, grain was grown, walnuts were harvested, and the ‘Le Proust’ still was put to work.
Today, this property remains in our family. Once an abbey, then a silk mill and a farm, it has become our beloved home. After renovating it to turn it into our holiday retreat, we have decided to open its doors to you so that you, in turn, can create your own most cherished memories here.
Silk: the Soul of the Drôme and of our Home
Did you know? In the 19th century, no other industry shaped the identity of the Drôme as much as silk production. At that time, our department was the beating heart of reeling – that crucial and meticulous stage that transforms raw silk into thread suitable for weaving.
This expertise has long been a part of the history of our building. Here, under the guidance of Henri Malleval, a local workforce — predominantly women, renowned for their boundless patience — worked tirelessly to supply the prestigious silk merchants of Lyon. Staying with us is also a way of paying tribute to this industrial heritage and to the work of these women who shaped the history of our valley.
The Age of the ‘Bouilleurs de Crus’: The Epic Tale of Old Proust
Beyond silk and grain, a unique tradition has left its mark on the history of our estate: that of distillation.
A travelling workshop (1921–1938)
The adventure began in 1921, when Gaston Bonnafond (Marie-Andrée’s grandfather) acquired the ‘Proust’. This legendary still, built in 1919, was not merely a tool, but a veritable travelling workshop.
Imagine the scene: mounted on tyre-wrapped wheels and pulled by a horse, the still travelled the roads of the Drôme. Following a fixed schedule, Gaston travelled from village to village to distil the fruits of the local harvests. It was a time of hard work, but also of great merriment, when neighbours would gather round the still to share news and celebrate the end of the harvests.
The rooting in Piégros-la-Clastre
After seventeen years of travelling the valley’s roads, the distillery finally settled permanently in La Clastre in 1938.
Today, although the still has fallen silent, its spirit of conviviality and shared enjoyment remains the cornerstone of our hospitality. When you stay here, you are following in the footsteps of the men and women — Henri, Gaston, Simone and Paulette — who kept the spirit of this place alive.
A lineage of women and men
Today, Marie-Andrée, the granddaughter of Gaston and Simone Bonnafond and the great-granddaughter of Henri Malleval, is proud to welcome you to this place where every stone tells the story of a branch of our family tree.
A little bit of extra history
As you stroll through the village, you can still admire the church, a remnant of the priory of the Order of Saint Augustine which gave its name to the neighbourhood: ‘La Clastre’ (the Cloister).
