Le Perche, France
Welcome to your new Hox Tiny House. It’s great to have you here for your little getaway in Le Perche. To make sure you get the most of your trip, we’ve put together this little Survival Guide containing all kinds of bits and bobs that you might need.
From getting around the small town to getting those dirty boots, it’s all laid out nice and easy for your reading pleasure here. We want you to have the best stay possible, so anything you need let us know during day time to the contact you’ll find at the bottom of this page.
Where are you
We found our dreamy tiny house nestled in Le Perche, thanks to our friends Parcel Tiny House – near the small town of Bellême in southern Normandy, just two hours from Paris. It lies amid valleys and forests on the Puits Carré stud farm, where host Sabine raises purebred Spanish horses.
What to do
Day 1
Make yourself at home
After checking in to the cabin at 3pm, why not upack and explore all that the tiny house has to offer, before heading outside to meet your new neighbours – the horses – and to explore your surroundings.
Live like a local
To get your bearings, start by strolling along the cobbled streets of Bellême, a characterful city and the former capital of Le Perche. While you’re there you can visit one of the local stores – L’Epicerie Bellêmoise – to get some fresh produce for your last morning in the cabin or to take home with you. In town, La Verticale Cave à Manger is a great spot to have a quiet dinner, with simple local cooking on offer. Afterwards, return to the cabin and enjoy a peaceful night’s sleep in the super quiet countryside – a welcome change after the hustle and bustle of city life.
Day 2
Slow morning
For your first full day in Le Perche, we recommend you enjoy a lazy morning! Sabine, your host at Puits-Carrés, will deliver all you need for the perfect breakfast and leave it on your porch. Think baguettes, jams, butter, juice and more, so you can just sit back and relax. Options for the day include joining Sabine on a meditative horse ride or to go wandering through one of the many flea markets or antiques shops in the area, which you can find all year round.
Adventure afternoon
At lunchtime, we will bring everything to you – a delicious gazpacho from a neighbouring farmer, all the ingredients to make a fresh salad, plus local yoghurt. Once you’ve eaten, you can use up some energy by cycling around one of the many hiking trails using the bikes provided. If you prefer to go on foot, take a trip to La Perrière, where you will discover a ‘Millennium Village’ nestled on the hillside on the edge of the Bellême forest, and you can walk through the picturesque alleys lined with colorful houses.
Time to refuel
If all this adventure has made you hungry again, don’t worry – a nice countryside apéro will be ready and waiting for you at the cabin. Expect a tasty local saucisson, perfectly paired with a cheese and some crackers, and with a bottle of Chandon Garden Spritz to accompany it. If you fancy a little extra, you’ll find some crisps and dips from Superproducteur in the kitchen drawers. Dinner tonight is a local herbed sausage and fresh bread to create homemade hot dogs, plus a selection of vegetables to cook on the BBQ. Once you’ve cleared your plates, we recommend bringing out the board games by Smallable to entertain you on your last night in the cabin.
Day 3
Rise & Shine
For the early birds we have provided two yoga mats from Yogamatata for an al fresco morning session, surrounded by nature. Sadly, it’s already your last morning in paradise, so make sure you get maximum chill until check out at 11am. If you want to delay going home a little longer, head to the cute restaurant Bistrot des Ecuries à Cour-Maugis-sur-Huisne for a final lunch of regional cuisine in beautiful surroundings.
Tips
For the curious
1. Stroll through one of the many flea markets or antique shops in the area. You’ll find great car boot sales for most of the year.
2. Get lost in the alleys of Bellême, a characterful medieval city and the former capital of Le Perche.
3. Discover La Perrière and its ‘Millennium Village’, nestled on the hillside on the edge of the Bellême forest, and walk through the picturesque streets lined with colourful houses.
4. Walk in one of the many nearby gardens: the Jardin du Bois du Puits, the Parc du Château de la Lorière or the Jardins de Montperthuis.
For sporty types
1. Tackle a stretch of the Alençon – Rives d’Andaine (43.5km) green trail that follows the Véloscénie route (cycling route from Paris to Mont-Saint-Michel). By bike or on foot, this route is classified as relatively easy.
2. Hire an electric bike to explore one of the many trails in the area. Véloc Perche: 06 72 0397 77 (open from March to November by reservation, 20min from the cabin).
3. Take a rejuvenating horseback ride through the stunning countryside of Le Perche.
4. Get a bird’s eye view and fly over Le Perche in ULM.
Fly over the Perche: 06 12 32 37 02 (open all year by reservation).
For foodies
Where to buy local products:
Le comptoir bio (Bellême)
Fromagerie les Goûts Normands (Bellême)
L’épicerie bellêmoise (Bellême)
Market days:
Mortagne-au-Perche, Saturday 8am-1pm
Bêlleme, Thursday 8am-12.30pm
Our favourite local restaurants:
La Verticale Cave à manger in Bêlleme: simple and local dishes
Bistrot des Ecuries in Cour-Maugis-sur-Huisne: regional cuisine
Le Relais d’Horbé in Belforêt-en-Perche: elegant fine dining
Pizzeria la Bellêmoise: delicious pizza
For a chill one
1. Watch the horses run in the meadow from the cabin.
2. Enjoy a natural setting between valleys and forest to recharge your batteries.
3. Enjoy endless discussion and a glass of local cider by hand.
4. Look at the stars from the panoramic bed.
5. In autumn, pick mushrooms in the beautiful forest of Bellême, classified by the Pratimoine of Unesco.
Important bits
- Water from the taps in the cabin is rain water and not safe for drinking.
- However, once ecologically filtered, water can be used for washing dishes and showers. Bottled water is provided in the cabin for drinking.
- Rain water is precious and so please help to preserve the supply by keeping showers to three minutes maximum and at an ambient temperature.
Reducing our carbon footprint starts with the waste we leave behind. In order to have a minimal impact on nature, please sort your rubbish – recycle items and leave your organic waste in a bowl which Sabine can then use for compost.
After using the toilets, press the pedal on the right approximately 10 times to make sure the waste is evacuated. Only throw toilet paper inside the toilets because, as you know, dry toilets transform waste into compost.
Please do not feed the horses to avoid poisoning them. It is possible to stroke them but do not pass the barrier (it is electrified). Oh and if you bring a small dog friend with you, please keep him/her on a leash at all times to avoid them getting hurt by the horses.
Open the box outside of your cabin, on the left side of the door. You can open it with your access code sent in your pre stay email. And close it once you’re done or want to leave the keys safely in there.
17 Police
18 Pompiers / Fireman
15 Samu / Ambulance
112 European Number
Sabine (your local host): +33 6 84 14 90 53 (also reachable on Whatsapp)
Théo (your Hoxton contact): +33 6 42 26 56 16
Camille (your Parcel contact): +33 6 07 70 87 85