About

The story of Moulin à Rêves is every bit as magical as the estate itself.

For more than seventy-five years, it has remained in the hands of one family. The story begins in 1948, when vaudeville legend Borrah Minevitch fell in love with Moulin à Rêves.

Born in Minsk, Borrah arrived in America at the age of five. He dreamed of playing the violin, but his mother could only afford a toy harmonica. Borrah was a "newsy" and played his harmonica while selling papers on the street. He discovered that the more he played, the more papers he sold. He never stopped playing—or tinkering.

By the time he was in college, Borrah perfected the chromatic harmonica and sold the rights to Hohner for $1,000,000. He became the world's first harmonica virtuoso and one of vaudeville's biggest stars. Leading his band, The Harmonica Rascals, he performed on Broadway with Florenz Ziegfeld and toured symphony halls from Hollywood to London, Berlin, and Vienna.

Success brought Borrah to Paris, where he purchased a celebrated jazz club on Île Saint-Louis. He bought Moulin à Rêves with the vision of turning it into an inn for artists and writers.

Charlie Chaplin, Jean Cocteau, Jacques Tati, Billy Rose, Maxime of Maxim's, and even the Duchess of Windsor were among his friends and guests. Moulin à Rêves became a place where conversation, music, art, and friendship flourished.

The next chapter belongs to renowned attorney Bert Fields, who married Borrah's daughter, model Lydia Stevens. Bert became one of Hollywood's most influential lawyers. His clients included Michael Jackson, Tom Cruise, Dustin Hoffman, Warren Beatty, and major studios including Disney and DreamWorks. For nearly fifty years, Moulin à Rêves remained Bert's beloved sanctuary. Here he cooked, wrote, entertained friends, and enjoyed the pleasures of French country life. The Hollywood Hideaway, one of the estate's three homes, still reflects his warmth, hospitality, and love of gathering people together.

Today, the estate reflects the eye and stewardship of Bert's second wife, art advisor Barbara Guggenheim. For more than thirty years, she has lovingly restored the property and infused it with her impeccable taste. From fine antiques and oil paintings to whimsical collections of poodle ceramics and scarves, her influence brings elegance, warmth, and charm to every corner of the estate.

And now the story continues with you.

Bienvenue chez vous.