The area I grew up in, le Perche, a regional natural park, lies between the departments of the Orne and Eure-et-Loir, about 150 km south-west of Paris. It is known for its landscapes and architecture, perfectly aligned with a bucolic and pastoral rural imagination. This imagination has long attracted many second-home owners and tourists.
How does the ideal of the countryside and a house in the country influence residential practices and contribute to the transformation of rural areas?
Through interviews and observations, this dissertation examines how this imagination influences ways of living, shapes ways the region is used and structures the relationships between permanent residents and temporary populations.
