Franck Ferrand

Twelve thematic chapters dedicated to the places that define the soul of France offer readers 100 "best of" destinations to the most beautiful, iconic, and evocative cities, sites, and landscapes. Beautifully illustrated with color photographs and regional maps, this book showcases the best of France's myriad delights, guiding us through UNESCO World Heritage sites, splendid castles, beautiful towns, great museums, and natural wonders. The compact, fully-illustrated guide reveals France's medieval treasures, gardens, vineyards, and the homes of its celebrated historical creatives. From the Lascaux prehistoric cave drawings to Avignon's Papal Palace; the formal gardens of Ch teau de Cormatin in Burgundy to the fairytale Ch teau d'Harou in Lorraine; and Leonardo de Vinci's house in the Loire Valley to the home of General de Gaulle, readers will discover the rich tapestry of French history and culture. This tour of France celebrates stunning landscapes: from the lighthouse of Cordouan to the Royal Saltworks of Arc-et-Senan--both masterpieces of Renaissance architecture; Monet's gardens at Giverny that inspired his Water Lilies to the Maul vrier Japanese Oriental Garden; the coastal city of Port-Cros in Provence to the Ile-aux-Moines in Brittany. This selection of the nation's most fascinating locations goes beyond the well-beaten tourist circuit to introduce you to the very heart of France. Curated by French historian Franck Ferrand and complete with overview maps to plot your own itineraries, this guide explores all facets of the multifarious country.

Step inside the ch teaux of the fabled red wines of the M doc and white wines of Sauternes on this insider's tour, complete with tasting notes for the great vintages. The landmark creation of the Grands Crus Class s in 1855 set the benchmark for wine quality around the world. The sixty-one reds of the M doc and twenty-seven whites of Sauternes are considered the finest wines in the world. The care that goes into creating these exceptional wines is an art, and the picturesque domaines where this craft is perfected are as beautiful as their wines are refined. This is the first book dedicated to the red and white wines that offers the history of each domaine, along with a guide to the great vintages and an address book to the vineyards. Newly commissioned photographs capture the region throughout the seasons, making this handsome volume both a glorious voyage and an important reference for any wine lover. The wineries stand beside the stunning properties and belie the meticulous and magical work that they shelter, where a long line of elite winemakers fastidiously watch over the laborious tradition that has defined these exceptional wines for more than 150 years. A ch teau's history can be a riveting saga, but it invariably demonstrates that the splendor of great Bordeaux wines resides in perfect balance. This volume includes a focus on Ch teau d'Yquem, a Premier cru sup rieur and the only wine of the Sauternes region to be awarded this rating through the 1855 classification.

Twelve thematic chapters dedicated to the places that define the soul of France offer readers 100 "best of" destinations to the most beautiful, iconic, and evocative cities, sites, and landscapes. Beautifully illustrated with color photographs and regional maps, this book showcases the best of France's myriad delights, guiding us through UNESCO World Heritage sites, splendid castles, beautiful towns, great museums, and natural wonders. The compact, fully-illustrated guide reveals France's medieval treasures, gardens, vineyards, and the homes of its most celebrated creatives. From the Lascaux prehistoric cave drawings to Avignon's Papal Palace; the formal gardens of Ch teau de Cormatin in Burgundy to the fairytale Ch teau d'Harou in Lorraine; and Leonardo de Vinci's house in the Loire Valley to the home of General de Gaulle, readers will discover the rich tapestry of French history and culture. This tour of France celebrates stunning landscapes: from the lighthouse of Cordouan to the Royal Saltworks of Arc-et-Senan--both masterpieces of Renaissance architecture; Monet's gardens at Giverny that inspired his Water Lilies to the Maul vrier Japanese Oriental Garden; the coastal city of Port-Cros in Provence to the Ile-aux-Moines in Brittany. This selection of the nation's most fascinating locations goes beyond the well-beaten tourist circuit to introduce you to the very heart of France.Curated by French historian Franck Ferrand and complete with overview maps to plot your own itineraries, this guide explores all facets of the multifarious country.

Step inside the ch teaux of the fabled red wines of the M doc and white wines of Sauternes on this insider's tour, complete with tasting notes for the great vintages. The landmark creation of the Grands Crus Class s in 1855 set the benchmark for wine quality around the world. The sixty-one reds of the M doc and twenty-seven whites of Sauternes are considered the finest wines in the world. The care that goes into creating these exceptional wines is an art, and the picturesque domaines where this craft is perfected are as beautiful as their wines are refined. This is the first book dedicated to the red and white wines that offers the history of each domaine, along with a guide to the great vintages and an address book to the vineyards. Newly commissioned photographs capture the region throughout the seasons, making this handsome volume both a glorious voyage and an important reference for any wine lover. The wineries stand beside the stunning properties and belie the meticulous and magical work that they shelter, where a long line of elite winemakers fastidiously watch over the laborious tradition that has defined these exceptional wines for more than 150 years. A ch teau's history can be a riveting saga, but it invariably demonstrates that the splendor of great Bordeaux wines resides in perfect balance. This volume includes a focus on Ch teau d'Yquem, a Premier cru sup rieur and the only wine of the Sauternes region to be awarded this rating through the 1855 classification.

Cawdor, one of Scotland’s most magnificent estates is the focus of Highland Living . Reflecting both the rusticity of the locale and the elegance of the castle’s grounds and interiors, inspiration and visual delights await as the door is opened to the castle’s gardens, kitchens and private apartments. Coupling impressive antiques with cosy creature comforts, Angelika Cawdor has created a charming décor of discerning Scottish style within this historic house. Accompanied by exquisite colour photography, the book opens with a history of Cawdor Castle, from its beginnings in the late 14th century and tales of Macbeth, to the present day in which the estate spans 18,000 acres of forest, grazing land and wildlife management, an exquisite kitchen garden, modern organic gardens, a glorious cutting garden and, of course, the manor with its attractive tapestries and furnishings. Cawdor tartans and Highland colour tones add to the perspective of what life is like on a working estate in Scotland and make this book a page-turner of vibrant images, information and insight. A section on the recipes of Cawdor Castle shows off Scottish culinary traditions—porridge, salmon, and haggis, as well as modern recipes for other traditional delights—partridge, roast rhubarb and apple crumble, and ginger beer, to name a few. The book is completed by an address book of the best places to visit, restaurants and lodges, and shopping for everything from chocolates to organic vegetables. A sumptuous book devoted to a special part of Inverness, Highland Living will be cherished by anyone who adores the traditions of Scotland and Scottish life.