Rive, a designer riverside retreat in Normandy

A Riverside Retreat in Normandy

At the end of the 19th century, the Seine valley between Paris and Rouen was the canvas on which Monet, Renoir, and their circle painted the light of summer afternoons. RIVE sits in that same pastoral stretch of Muids — a bourgeois residence of around 1850 that has been painstakingly restored, with Hauvette & Madani threading a quietly contemporary design language through the bones of the original.

Throughout the house, a deliberate material palette — Ressources paints in chalky, receding tones, Métaphores textiles with tactile weight, vintage Selency furniture — creates continuity between seven rooms that each read differently. The living room anchors the social life of the house around an open fireplace. The kitchen is designed for shared mornings and impromptu gatherings. Bonsoir hotel-grade linens and Refyld toiletries bring a hotel finish to every en-suite bathroom.

The property meets the Seine directly, with a private dock for boating and water-skiing. An 18-metre heated pool runs parallel to the garden terraces. Beside it, a sauna and cold plunge complete a recovery circuit that most sports clubs would consider aspirational. Multiple terraced viewpoints allow the light to shift across the parkland and river throughout the day.

Layout

This vacation home for rent in Muids, Normandy sleeps up to 14 guests. Seven bedrooms, each with a private bathroom, are spread across the main house. Bedroom 01 and 02 (21m² each) offer queen beds with shower and WC. Bedroom 03 (25m²) converts between a king and two singles, with two additional children's beds. Bedroom 04 (25m²) has a queen and bathtub. Bedroom 05 (25m²) is a queen with shower. Bedroom 06 (20m²) offers king-or-twin flexibility. The largest room, Bedroom 07 (28m²), has a queen, shower, and separate bathtub.

Experiences

A house guide is sent before arrival. On-site and nearby: sauna and cold plunge sessions; forest and riverside hiking trails; Strava running routes along the Seine; boat and water-skiing on the river from the private dock; cider factory tours and tastings; a tennis club 15 minutes by car.

Good to know

Daily cleaning and fresh breakfast are included as standard. The professional workspace (four 4K monitors, a 10-person meeting table, whiteboard, and smart webcam) makes the property well-suited to corporate off-sites and team retreats. A car is strongly recommended for local exploration. The property is child-friendly, with a dedicated children's garden space. Events are allowed on demand, with prior permission.

Amenities & services

Heated pool (18m), sauna, cold plunge, riverside dock, barbecue, cinema and gaming room, professional workspace (4×4k monitors, 10-pax meeting table, whiteboard, smart webcam), bar, ultra-fast wi-fi, daily housekeeping, fresh breakfast included, hotel-grade bedding (Bonsoir), Refyld toiletries, private parking, children's garden area

Around

Muids sits in the Seine valley that shaped one of the defining movements in Western art — a fact the landscape makes self-evident, particularly in the changing afternoon light. Château Gaillard, the ruined medieval fortress above Les Andelys, is a 20-minute drive and offers some of the most architecturally arresting river views in Normandy. Monet's house and garden at Giverny (still managed by the Académie des Beaux-Arts) is 40 minutes away and worth the early start. Rouen, with its Gothic cathedral and half-timbered medieval quarter, is 50 minutes. A car is essential, as the countryside between these points is quiet, unhurried, and considerably better experienced at your own pace.

Location

Muids, Eure, Normandy, France. Nearest major airport: Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG, 1h30 by car). Train: Paris Saint-Lazare to Gaillon-Aubevoye (1h), then taxi approx. 20 min.