No comments about Laminated France Map by Borch.

5 comments about art-SITES France: Contemporary Art + Architecture Handbook (Art - Sites).

1. art-SITES, founded by art historian and museum curator Sidra Stich, is launching art-SITES FRANCE thic month and expects to release art-SITES GREAT BRITAIN & IRELAND early next year. A travel guide and handbook on contemporary art and architecture, art-SITES FRANCE provides maps and commentary on vanguard buildings, art fairs, film centers, even a patisserie with superbly designed cakes. "It's museums, but not just museums, and we provide text that's a very readable course on art at the same time," said Stich.



2. "Forget the Louvre's Renaissance masterpieces. This guide focuses its attention on the great museum's I.M. Pei-designed glass pyramid renovation. And in its pages Roy Lichtenstein trumps Toulouse-Lautrec. A San Francisco-based art historian, Stich casts a wide research net over this art-appreciative nation and offers a well-organized, well-written take on where to encounter the best painting, sculpture, architecture and film of the last few decades."



3. Review published by NY art critic Walter Robinson in ArtNet "News", April 9, 1999: "Art lovers en route to France this summer will want to pick up a copy of Art-SITES FRANCE by curator and avid art traveler Sidra Stich. The $19.95 paperback blurbs all the important museums, art centers, galleries and public art works, famous and little known."



4. Review published in Library Journal, April 15, 1999. "This new series, focusing on France is a 'unique travel guide and handbook on contemporary art and architecture.' Stich, an art historian and curator, has brought together under one cover a complete, user-friendly guide to the French art world. She provides detailed descriptions of galleries, museums, film and video centers, public artworks, art bookstores, sculpture parks, and even a parking garage, sites that are not mentioned in other guidebooks. The main focus of the book is Paris, but there are chapters on day trips and excursions to other French provinces. Each chapter is organized by neighorhood and region and contains a map with numbers and site icons that are easy to distinguish. Stich's knowledge of and joy in the art world is evident throughout the book; a great addition to any travel collection."



5. Sun. July 11, SF Examiner-Chronicle, Linda Watanabe McFerrin,(travel editor)wrote: "This is the inaugural book in an ambitious new series covering the world's contemporary art and architecture. Innovative, intriguing and refreshingly intellectual, it provides well-researched, well-informed guidance to the museums, art and film centers, galleries, bookstores, public art and notable buildings in France. Details about recent exhibitions and artists further familiarize readers with the often mystifying world of the avant-garde. Serious students of contemporary art will find it a satisfyingly comprehensive guidebook."

5 comments about 26 Gorgeous Hikes on the Western Cote d'Azur (26 Gorgeous Hikes).

1. Seeing the countryside by foot is one of the most exhilarating, enriching and healthy ways to travel. Hikers and walkers will see scenery, historical sites and wildlife that auto travelers will never see. As an avid hiker, this book is one that I will treasure.
   
   Author Florence Chatzigianis takes travelers on several half day hikes in the Cote d'Azur region of France. Her descriptions of the area, concise and accurate directions and detailed information will make hiking easy for anyone. Each hike is vividly described and accompanied by beautiful photos of the region. Difficulty, distance and hiking times are given to aid the traveler in his or her plans.
   
   Glossy pages, complete with contact information, maps and even the small size of the book make this a huge asset to hikers considering France as their destination. The book is well laid out, easy to read and educational. The back of the book includes a list of local sporting goods stores for supplies as well as a list of tourist information offices. Pick up a copy, put it in your backpack and set off on an exciting journey in France as a well-informed hiker.
   
   Highly recommended for hikers and travelers by reviewer: Shirley Roe, Allbooks Review



2. I've hiked in France, but I had no idea what a beautiful and interesting region Cote d'Azur was until I read Florence Chatzigianis's, "26 Gorgeous Hikes on the Western Cote d'Azur." Now I want to go there, her guidebook in hand, and try out the trails she describes so vividly!
   
   Chatzigianis's book is not only informative, but also easy to use. She's organized the 26 hikes by region, which enables visitors to quickly find a trail nearby. I particularly like the way that the "Table of Hikes," breaks the hikes into categories of "easy" and "medium," and then gives the distance and time needed for each. And since I like to know whether I'll be doing a lot of climbing in the mountains or a bit of strolling by the shore, I find the small drawings showing the elevation range of each hike are also quite useful.
   
   Chatzigianis's colorful photos are a rich accompaniment to the text. Not only are there pictures of the beautiful countryside, but also of the many historical and cultural sights that most auto-touring visitors miss.
   
   Finally, I found that the "Aside" sections--short essays on such intriguing topics as "Hiking Under Water," (on the island of Port-Cros) and "The Cork Oak" (some of which you see on the Lac de l'Ecureuil trail), make "26 Gorgeous Hikes on the West Cote d'Azur" an indispensable guide for any traveler who wants to truly experience France's Mediterranean coastline.
   
   Highly recommended!



3. As a connoisseur of hiking books and having spent a summer during college (many moons ago) exploring this region of France, I was drawn to this book about hiking the western Côte d' Azur. The book is lightweight, perfect for carrying or slipping into a backpack. The table summarizing hikes by difficulty, distance and terrain will prove particularly helpful. Other positive aspects in the book include the color photographs, the useful contact information and the interesting tidbits regarding history of the area, plants and the like. My only regret is that our vacation plans this year do not include the Côte d' Azur, so will have to postpone putting this book to use first-hand. Maybe next year . . .



4. An alternative tourist attraction could be found and would be well appreciated by nature lovers around the world - "26 Gorgeous Hikes on the Western Cote d'Azur" is a compilation of guides for twenty six half day hikes around France's beautiful coastline along the Mediterranean Sea for any experience level. Packed with color photos and specifics of each trail such as its time, distance, difficulty and what you should bring in preparation, it is the flat out most comprehensive guide you can find on the subject, even covering the history of the area alongside information on the plantlife. "26 Gorgeous Hikes on the Western Cote d'Azur" is highly recommended for armchair travelers and hiking enthusiasts destined to travel to southern France.



5. 26 Gorgeous Hikes on the Western CÃ'te d'Azur is an illustrated guide that invites you to slow down, take a breath of fresh air and soak in the Western French Riviera's natural beauty. Author Chatzigianis is a long-time hiker who has spent many years scouting southern France for footpaths with stunning views, walks that lead to boat-accessible only inlets, and prehistoric sites rarely visited or seen.
   
   This guide has stunning maps and photographs of the nature hikes. There is an introduction with points of interest for each hike. Hiking time, distance, difficulty level and elevation profile are included with each hike description as well as practical advice on when to go and what to take with you.
   
   The descriptions of the hikes are vivid enough to make you want to go there, to see it for yourself.
   
   You climb a short, steep hill behind the village of La Garde-Freinet. You cross a moat that is carved deep into the rock. Step back 800 years in time; you have entered the ruins of the ancient fortified stone settlement of Fort Freinet.
   
   Whether you enjoy an evening walk through a chestnut grove to watch a monastery set aglow by the setting sun or a more vigorous hike up the red mountains to view the amazing view of the Mediterranean Sea, there is something for everyone to enjoy in this beautiful guide of the Western Cote d'Azur.
   
   The hikes range from an hour to half a day. I never knew some of these places even existed until I read this lovely guide. My interest has been peaked and I found myself daydreaming as I became absorbed in the photographs. My family may find themselves on a vacation soonâ"that only I have been dreaming of!
   
   Armchair Interview says: Excellent book for hikers and dreamers

No comments about Michelin Map No. 517: Pays de Loire Region (France), Rennes, Angers, Nantes, le Mans and Surrounding Area, Scale 1:200,000.

1 comments about Impressionist Paris.

1. No guidebook on the market gives a tour like this one. Viewing the places where painters painted with your own eyes is the only way you can really understand their work. Great personal learning tool. Makes the Impressionists come alive.

2 comments about Insight Pocket Guide Loire Valley (Insight Pocket Guides Loire Valley).

1. Looking for a very good, overall description of the Loire? This is it. From climate to history, food, folklore, detailed backgrounds on unusual places. Just about every place of any interest will be mentioned. Not just another surface guide to the usual attractions. Well worth the price.



2. I happen to be a big fan of the Insight guides, my main criticism being that they aren't updated often enough. This Loire guide is the "pocket" version, so it's not comprehensive, but what's there is choice. There are brief descripions and history of the principal sights and chateaux, with very handy suggested itineraries and driving routes. There is very little restaurant and hotel information, but those two items don't happen to be Insight's strong suit even in the larger version. What I like about these guides, either full-size or pocket, is that the prose is clear and user-friendly, there are nice tidbits of history, and the general approach is respectful but not dry. Good information on cities like Tours and Orleans. I wouldn't buy this as my only Loire guide, but it is a useful addition--if Insight makes a full-size Loire guide, go for that one.

No comments about Living in Provence (Jumbo S.).

No comments about France: 2009 Mini Day-to-Day Calendar.

1 comments about The Vine Garden: A Life-Changing Summer in the Gardens, Vineyards, and Chateaux of the Heart of France.

1. Take my review with a grain of salt because I know very little about gardening and less about wine.
   
   Mr. Dingwall-Main designed gardens for estates in England. Apparently, he found designing English gardens suffocating and decided to transplant his career and family to the Provence area of France. I believe his first book, THE LUBERON GARDENS, tells the story of that move.
   
   This book begins about seven years later when his life, gardening, and marriage are getting stale and/or complicated. A close friend and neighbor encourages Mr. Dingwall-Main to explore the vinyards and the hopefully, accompanying gardens throughout France and a couple in South Africa. It is suggested that he acquire sample bottles of wine on his trips for he and his friend to sample together later. This book is about those travels.
   
   Mr. Dingwall-Main's writing style is a little stiff and self-centered, with just enough feeling and humor coming through to hold my interest. There's a little too much wine and not enough gardens to suit me, but wine lovers would disagree. I think I would have enjoyed the book more if there had been a little more written about his dissolving marriage and the problems he was obviously having in getting his new bachelor pad ready for habitation. I felt no more for this man than I would feel for a robot. Perhaps, if I had read his earlier book I would have felt more sympathy for him. I would recommend that anyone interested in this book read the other one first.

No comments about Present day Paris and the battlefields: The visitor's handbook with the chief excursions to the battlefields.