Most Beautiful Villages of the Dordogne [Hardcover]

James Bentley (Author), Hugh Palmer (Photographer)

Book Description

Series: Most Beautiful Villages | Publication Date: September 1996

The Dorodogne offers splendid scenery, exquisite food and wine, the finest examples of prehistoric art and some of the most enchanting villages of France. This guide offers a journey through the region, from northern gems such as Brantome to "grand" villages such as Hautefort, found further south among the hills and limestone valleys. Gastronomy and prehistory distinguish the villages of the two southern-most areas, from the white wine of Monbazillac to the prehistoric cave paintings of Les Eyzies, while the ancient fortified towns of Montfort and Montpazier recall the struggles of the Middle Ages. The book comes complete with a travellers' gazetteer.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Walk through a land of pure enchantment in this tour of a particularly lovely part of France, the southwestern area called the Dordogne, from the river that flows through it. (The region is also known as the Perigord.) Experienced travel writer Bentley and outstanding photographer Palmer (partnered in the previous title in the series, Most Beautiful Villages of Tuscany ) guide the reader from one charming, beautiful village to another. In large-format display, Palmer captures particularly evocative scenes, and in buoyant text, Bentley describes the physical appearance of each place and discusses local cuisine and the dramatic history in which the region is steeped. Readers will find it difficult to remain armchair-bound once they have savored these luscious pages! Brad Hooper

Review

The Most Beautiful Villages Of The Dordogne is a visual tour-de-force of the "Perigord" region of France with its evocative, descriptive text and its 258 full-color, breathtakingly beautiful illustrations. The Dordogne offers splendid scenery, exquisite food and wine, the finest examples of prehistoric art and some of the most enchanting villages of France. Readers will discover villages of widely contrasting appeal and interest: in the north are gems such as Brantome with its fine abbey and ancient houses gracing the banks of the river Dronne. Further south, among the undulating hills and warm limestone valleys of the white Dordogne are villages such as Hautefort, crouching beneath the twin pepper-pot towers of its chateau. Gastronomy and the artifacts of prehistory distinguish the villages of the two southernmost areas. Other sties such as Les Eyzies, harbor some of the best prehistoric cave paintings in the world, while the ancient fortified towns of Montfort and Monpazier recall the struggles of the Middle Ages. Complete with a traveler's gazetteer and further information about the region, The Most Beautiful Villages Of The Dordogne is a magnificent presentation of the Dordogne's small towns and villages demonstrating the qualities that attract so many visitors every year. The Most Beautiful Villages Of The Dordogne is an armchair traveler's dream! James Bentley's talents as an experienced travel writer are manifest. Hugh Palmer's photography is arresting, as he shares his artist's eye through the camera's lens and gives the reader a multiplicity of memorable visions. The Most Beautiful Villages Of The Dordogne is the ideal coffee-table book and will inspire many a reader to trod those Dordogne roads themselves. -- Midwest Book Review

Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Thames & Hudson; First Edition edition (September 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0500542015
• ISBN-13: 978-0500542019
• Product Dimensions: 12.3 x 10.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.9 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #406,110 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Almost captures the beauty of the Dordogne, December 31, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Most Beautiful Villages of the Dordogne (Hardcover)

Of all the places I've been, I've never seen an area where reality surpasses the most breathtaking photos--until I visited the Dordogne. This book does, however, give the reader a glimpse into what treasures can be found at every turn. The book prepared me well before my trip and brings fond memories now that I'm home.

16 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A virtual visit to an enchanting land, September 25, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Most Beautiful Villages of the Dordogne (Hardcover)

This book, with its artistic photographs and evocative descritions of an enchanting land where bright sunlight, a warm climate, fragances of the country side, and nostalgic medieval villages perched on cliffs and hilltops, immerses the reader in a fantasy land of great beauty and ancient heritage.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars ENCHANTING!, April 15, 2007

By 

Marie Antoinette - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Most Beautiful Villages of the Dordogne (Hardcover)

This book beautifully captures the enchantment of Dordogne. Cozy villages, medieval chateaux, rivers snaking through the charming countryside all describe Dordogne. Also, I would like to point out that the architecture and topography are different from its neighbor, Provence.