Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #73397 in Books
• Published on: 1994-10
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 222 pages

From Library Journal
Jacobs, an art historian and travel writer (A Guide to Provence, Penguin, 1989), continues to demonstrate his knowledge of Provence in this work, the perfect complementary text to Palmer's compelling photography, seen most recently in The Water Garden (Thames and Hudson, 1993). Text and photographs illustrate the belief that Provence's multiple identities are best represented in its villages, which vary greatly in character and architecture, from the fascinating west through the tranquil center to the fortified Italianate east. The photographs of simple churches, fountains, shady squares, and cobbled lanes demand leisurely observation, always justifying the inclusion of each of the more than 30 villages chosen. Information on local festivals and markets, hotels, and restaurants is also included in this beautiful volume. Highly recommended for travel and architecture collections.
William R. Smith, Johns Hopkins Univ. Lib., Baltimore, Md.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Midwest Book Review
Provence is a land apart, a territory of outstanding beauty and distinction that has exercised a fascination for outsiders since earliest times. It is the smaller communities that the true Provencal spirit can be found: in brilliant sunlight falling across the terracotta roofs of the hill villages, or in the velvety shade beneath the great plane trees in an ancient square. It is such scenes which are celebrated here in Hugh Palmer's stunning photographs and Michael Jacobs' evocative account of the most beautiful villages of this, the best loved of all French provinces. The variety of the villages of Provence is astounding. The Most Beautiful Villages of Provence is a celebration in 300 color illustrations of that variety, of a beauty and spirit that have continued to entrance outsiders to the present day.

Customer Reviews

The Most Beautiful Villages of Provence
France is one of my favorate places to visit and the book has picked a few of the places I have visited. Great Book to own.

INTOXICATING!
I love this book! It effectively captures the drama and charm of Provence. I have been to Provence and this book is the next best thing if you can't go there. I also highly recommend the other book "The Most Beautiful Country Towns of Provence".

Disappointing
I bought this book thinking that it would show me not only nice pictures, but also information about the villages it supposedly considers the most beautiful ones in Provence. Pure disappointment... Even though the quality of the pictures is nice, they do not give you a true view of the relevant villages. They are pictures taken at random that do not represent - sometimes - the best view of the village.

But what is most dissapoiting in this book is the poor information about the villages, its populations, culture and location. In my opinion, every descrition of each village should also contain a map of its location in southern France (for us to know how could one get there), its population (to see how big it is), a some info on the villages picturesque points, etc. The few paragraphs dedicated to each village are too vague.

Finally, I think the editor should have made this book differently with half the villages and twice the pictures and info about them. I gave 2 stars for the pictures.