Discover the hidden treasures of the 153 most picturesque villages to visit in France with this fully illustrated comprehensive travel guide. From the half-timbered Alsatian houses of Eguisheim to the lavender fields of Montclus in the Languedoc-Roussillon, this fully illustrated guide unveils the beauty of rural France, providing visitor’s information for these exceptionally preserved destinations. Carefully chosen each year through a rigorous selection process, the French villages featured in this official guide are replete with historical, architectural, and natural riches. An introductory paragraph presents the location and history of each village and is accompanied by recommendations for monuments, museums, and other notable places to visit. Practical information includes accommodation options ranging from hotels to campsites, restaurants and markets, and artisanal produce and local specialties. Details on leisure activities encompass festivals and events, sports, golf, and other excursions that encourage visitors to explore the surrounding area on walks and hikes, by canoe, or on horseback. The book includes an overview map of France, and each village is featured on an easy-to-read road map, accompanied by the best way to arrive by road, train, and airplane. Suggestions for neighboring villages and sites that should not be missed, along with their proximity, simplifies itinerary planning. Cross-references and an index by region complete this practical, authoritative, and accessible guide.

Discover the 164 most picturesque villages in France, selected for their authenticity, beauty, and cultural heritage by the accredited association Les Plus Beaux Villages de France. These charming French destinations offer a truly unique travel experience, from the quaint fishermen’s houses, water mills, and thatched cottages of Veules-les-Roses in Normandy to the magnificent vineyards of Châtillon-en-Dois, and from the cobblestone streets and fortified gates in the medieval bastide of Cordes-sur-Ciel to the snowcapped mountains surrounding Bonneval-sur-Arc. This comprehensive illustrated guide reveals the hidden treasures of France, inviting readers to explore the villages throughn : - 164 color road maps - Local history - Sights and attractions - Accommodation options - Restaurant recommendations - Events and activities - Gastronomic and artisanal specialties - 10 bicycle itineraries This fully-updated fortieth anniversary edition is an essential resource for enjoying a memorable trip through the most beautiful villages of France.

This is the perfect companion for exploring the hidden, tranquil corners that form the rural heart of France.

An insider’s tour of France’s most beloved and beautiful villages uncovers the country’s hidden treasures. The Best Loved Villages of France brings the reader on a tour of forty-four of the country’s most treasured destinations. Always picturesque, but often well-kept secrets, the book offers insight into village life and local history. Take a tour of a crumbling medieval fortress with the mayor of Lavardin or peruse the maritime objects found at sea by a mustached fisherman in Saint-Suliac. Stroll along the coast of the Wissant bay windsurfer’s paradise or promenade through the manicured grounds of Vaux-le-Vicomte. Watch the sunrise over the fairy-tale castle in Montsoreau or enjoy a fresh langoustine dinner in Piana, Corsica. This book offers an illustrated tour around all twenty-two regions of France, from Provence and the Alps, to Normandy and the Loire. Aerial and intimate photographs invite the reader to explore these splendid locales, while the descriptions, anecdotes, and interviews with local village-dwellers plunge you into the individual history and character of France’s diverse regions. The villages featured in the book were selected in a popular vote by the French public and they represent an authentic journey into the heart of France.

Shows and describes the southwestern region of France also known as the Perigord

A beautifully illustrated book that brings together the unique story of over fifty-five of France's most beautiful wine villages. Provides information about the communities and their history, wines, and grape varieties. There is an an extraordinary diversity of regions, villages, and vineyards that together comprise one of the world's best-loved and best-known wine countries. 'The Most Beautiful Wine Villages of France' show cases over fifty-five of the most beautiful of France's wine villages. From Chablis to Sancerre to St-Emilion to Menerbes the book explores the character and geography of the villages through the eyes of one of France's most respected wine writers combined with over 200 beautiful full-colour photographs. There are also useful boxes and full-colour illustrations that highlight key wine facts about each village.