Stretching 1,200 kilometres across six countries, the colossal mountains of the Alps dominate Europe, geographically and historically. Enlightenment thinkers felt the sublime and magisterial peaks were the very embodiment of nature, Romantic poets looked to them for divine inspiration, and Victorian explorers tested their ingenuity and courage against them. Located at the crossroads between powerful states, the Alps have played a crucial role in the formation of European history, a place of intense cultural fusion as well as fierce conflict between warring nations. A diverse range of flora and fauna have made themselves at home in this harsh environment, which today welcomes over 100 million tourists a year. Leading Alpine scholar Jon Mathieu tells the story of the people who have lived in and been inspired by these mountains and valleys, from the ancient peasants of the Neolithic to the cyclists of the Tour de France. Far from being a remote and backward corner of Europe, the Alps are shown by Mathieu to have been a crucible of new ideas and technologies at the heart of the European story.

A guidebook to 100 day walks in the Alps. Exploring the beautiful Alpine scenery of France, Switzerland, Italy, Austria and Slovenia, the routes are suitable for walkers of all abilities and are perfect for walking July to September. The walks range from 4-32km (2-20 miles) and can be enjoyed in 1-8 hours. Some walks are perfect for lunch at a hut before a return to the valley base, others involve an overnight stay at a hut. Suggestions for hut-to-hut tours are also given. Sketch maps are included for each route Highlights include the Maritime Alps, Julian Alps, Gran Paradiso, and Bernese Oberland Detailed information on planning, walking in the alps and hut etiquette English-French-German-Italian glossary Sized to easily fit in a jacket pocket

The second edition of this classic guidebook by Kev Reynolds on walking and trekking in the Alps. This book is a definitive guide to the many thousands of possible routes, with a geographical span that ranges from the Maritime Alps of southern France to the Julians of Slovenia, from Italy's Gran Paradiso to the little-known Türnitzer Alps of eastern Austria, and from the ice-bound giants of the Bernese Oberland to the green rolling Kitzbüheler Alps and the bizarre towers of the Dolomites of South Tirol, showing the amazing diversity of this wonderful mountain chain. There are walks to suit every taste: gentle and undemanding, long and tough, and everything in between. Written by Britain's most respected authority on the Alps, this is a fully updated edition of this important book.