La Perrière, or how to live your best life in Perche

"To live happily, let's live hidden," the motto has never been so well chosen by lovers of the Perche . The smaller the hamlet and the more lost in the Normandy bocage, the more it attracts prominent people, jealous of their tranquility. It almost borders on the desire for anonymity. The sought-after village, barely visible on the map, can fit into a handkerchief. A few houses, old restored farms, or sheds used as workshops, house generally second homes. But the temporary can become permanent for those who have taken the plunge. Even if we call them neoruraux , these city dwellers who have fled the city to live their best second life do not go so far as to don the farmer's clothes. Just those of the gardener.

Monique Duveau, a colorful character, is outspoken. This former food stylist and author of several cookbooks, is a figurehead in this Perche region, which is being repopulated by Parisians. Her book , "Vivre la campagne" (Living in the Countryside)...