La Perrière’s village school is now home to a dépanneur (a convenience store), as they say in Québec. Élodie and Vincent Kolb dreamt up this lovely place as a one-stop-shop with, in addition to all the basics (flour from Farine du Perche obviously, eggs, fresh fruit and vegetables), an outstanding fine foods corner, drugstore items, aprons and tea towels from Lin Perché, plus natural fertilizers for your gardens. A chic bonus: Kalios sunflower seed breadsticks from Crete (€3.90) and Nomie spice mix recipe packets (like dukkah with Piedmont hazelnuts for €8). In short, a small épicerie with big ambitions. // Marcelle Claudepierre  

The hidden gem: Simple meals at sweet prices (stuffed zucchini and diced cucumber with mint, €5-7) which you can take away at lunch from Monday to Wednesday, when the village’s restaurants are all closed.