GENTLY sloping hills and medieval churches: the charms of La Sarthe in rural western France are as discreet as its people. There is nothing quite grand enough to catch the eye, nor grimy enough to avoid. In the little town of La Ferté-Bernard, there is an active parish and scout group. Rabbit is on the menu du jour at Le Dauphin restaurant. Yet local talk is about the new discount grocer, Lidl. And 70 volunteers at Secours Catholique, a charity, help with warm clothes, tinned food and weekly homework for families in difficulty. “We ask for a small contribution to preserve people's dignity,” explains Monique Bouché, who runs the charity in the town.
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