Product Description

Explores the beauty of the French regions of the Dordogne in 258 color photographs that reveal the lush vegetation of the northern crescent, the red grapes of the Bergerac vineyards, the truffles of the southeast, the abbey of Branto+a3me, and the charming village of Hautefort. BOMC.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #750539 in Books
• Published on: 1996-09
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 224 pages

From Booklist
Walk through a land of pure enchantment in this tour of a particularly lovely part of France, the southwestern area called the Dordogne, from the river that flows through it. (The region is also known as the Perigord.) Experienced travel writer Bentley and outstanding photographer Palmer (partnered in the previous title in the series, Most Beautiful Villages of Tuscany ) guide the reader from one charming, beautiful village to another. In large-format display, Palmer captures particularly evocative scenes, and in buoyant text, Bentley describes the physical appearance of each place and discusses local cuisine and the dramatic history in which the region is steeped. Readers will find it difficult to remain armchair-bound once they have savored these luscious pages! Brad Hooper

Review
The Most Beautiful Villages Of The Dordogne is a visual tour-de-force of the "Perigord" region of France with its evocative, descriptive text and its 258 full-color, breathtakingly beautiful illustrations. The Dordogne offers splendid scenery, exquisite food and wine, the finest examples of prehistoric art and some of the most enchanting villages of France. Readers will discover villages of widely contrasting appeal and interest: in the north are gems such as Brantome with its fine abbey and ancient houses gracing the banks of the river Dronne. Further south, among the undulating hills and warm limestone valleys of the white Dordogne are villages such as Hautefort, crouching beneath the twin pepper-pot towers of its chateau. Gastronomy and the artifacts of prehistory distinguish the villages of the two southernmost areas. Other sties such as Les Eyzies, harbor some of the best prehistoric cave paintings in the world, while the ancient fortified towns of Montfort and Monpazier recall the struggles of the Middle Ages. Complete with a traveler's gazetteer and further information about the region, The Most Beautiful Villages Of The Dordogne is a magnificent presentation of the Dordogne's small towns and villages demonstrating the qualities that attract so many visitors every year. The Most Beautiful Villages Of The Dordogne is an armchair traveler's dream! James Bentley's talents as an experienced travel writer are manifest. Hugh Palmer's photography is arresting, as he shares his artist's eye through the camera's lens and gives the reader a multiplicity of memorable visions. The Most Beautiful Villages Of The Dordogne is the ideal coffee-table book and will inspire many a reader to trod those Dordogne roads themselves. -- Midwest Book Review

Customer Reviews

Almost captures the beauty of the Dordogne
Of all the places I've been, I've never seen an area where reality surpasses the most breathtaking photos--until I visited the Dordogne. This book does, however, give the reader a glimpse into what treasures can be found at every turn. The book prepared me well before my trip and brings fond memories now that I'm home.

A virtual visit to an enchanting land
This book, with its artistic photographs and evocative descritions of an enchanting land where bright sunlight, a warm climate, fragances of the country side, and nostalgic medieval villages perched on cliffs and hilltops, immerses the reader in a fantasy land of great beauty and ancient heritage.

ENCHANTING!
This book beautifully captures the enchantment of Dordogne. Cozy villages, medieval chateaux, rivers snaking through the charming countryside all describe Dordogne. Also, I would like to point out that the architecture and topography are different from its neighbor, Provence.