James TALL

FRANCE - The Complete Travel Companion : A Guide to the Regions, the Cities, the Table and the Art of Living James TALL

France is the most visited country on earth, and no other packs such variety into so manageable a space: snow-capped Alps and sun-drenched coasts, Gothic cathedrals and Roman ruins, the grandest capital in Europe and ten thousand quiet villages — all within a country one may cross by fast train in an afternoon. This complete companion sets out to show the whole of France, not Paris alone. It travels the country region by region — Paris and the Loire, Normandy and Brittany, the East and the Alps, the South-West and Provence, the Riviera and beyond — capturing the character and the highlights of each.

It then draws together the great themes that run through them all: the glory of the French table, the sweep of history and art from the painted caves to the Impressionists, and that incomparable art of living that is, for many, the country's deepest gift. Practical throughout, it offers suggested itineraries for journeys of every length and taste, a clear A-to-Z of travelling in France, and a wealth of durable advice for first-time visitors and returning lovers of the country alike.