Product Description

The first comprehensive guide of its kind, Romanesque Churches of France is an ideal companion for travelers and an invaluable reference for those interested in architecture and sculpture. Featuring 100 churches, 180 photos, and maps.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1107254 in Books
• Published on: 2005-04-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 372 pages

Review
"'Peter Strafford's book should open people's eyes to one of the less-known treasures of France. He takes the reader to the ancient towns and villages where the best of these lovely churches are to be found, region by region; and he is a perceptive and knowledgeable guide who makes you want to visit each one of them.' Simon Jenkins, author of England's Thousand Best Churches (1999) 'A masterly and detailed account of Romanesque glories and their history: every section of it made me long to revisit that area of France with Peter Strafford's book in hand.' Sir Brian Young, Director-General, Independent Broadcasting Authority, 1970-82, and author of The Villein's Bible: Stories in Romanesque Carving (1990)"

From the Publisher
The Romanesque churches to be found in every corner of France are among the wonders of Europe. Built between 1000 and 1200, their architectural styles vary from region to region, as do their sizes. This period also saw a revival of sculpture, and many of the churches, such as Moissac and Chauvigny, are home to outstanding examples of the art. Romanesque Churches of France, which highlights a hundred churches in ten geographical sections of France—from Normandy and Burgundy in the north to Provence, Roussilon, and Languedoc in the south—will inspire the traveler to explore these beautiful regions as well as those less known, such as Auverne and the Pyrenees. This lavish companion will also be welcomed by anyone with a general interest in the history of France's architecture and sculpture. Peter Strafford, a distinguished journalist, wrote for the TIMES of London for over three decades.

About the Author
Simon Jenkins, author of England's Thousand Best Churches (1999) and England's Thousand Best Houses (2003), and ex-editor of The Times: 'Peter Strafford's book should open people's eyes to one of the less-known treasures of France. He takes the reader to the ancient towns and villages where the best of these lovely churches are to be found, region by region; and he is a perceptive and knowledgeable guide who makes you want to visit each one of them.' Sir Brian Young, Director-General, Independent Broadcasting Authority, 1970-82, and author of The Villein's Bible: Stories in Romanesque Carving (1990): 'A masterly and detailed account of Romanesque glories and their history: every section of it made me long to revisit that area of France with Peter Strafford's book in hand.' Peter Strafford is a distinguished journalist who worked on the Times for more than three decades, including in Paris and Brussels, and was, among other things, the Times correspondent in New York for five years and a leader-writer in London commenting on international affairs. His last position was editor of the Times's special reports on foreign countries, many of which he visited himself.

Customer Reviews

The best!
I have many books about the ancient cathedrals and churches of Europe, but this is my favorite. The inventory of churches covered is extensive. The writing style is very engaging, and the information provided for each church is thorough without being too much. I particularly like the historical overview in the introductory section of the book. Although the photos are all black and white, they are clearly printed. This is THE book to take if you're planning to wander the French countryside.

A Helpful and Practical Guide
As an admirer of French romanesque art I found this book both insightful and illuminating. It identified some wonderful churches I hadn't come across before and provided very informative and opinionated commentary. Practical and very readable, I'd recommend it to anyone with an interest in this topic.