The Most Beautiful Villages of France (Most Beautiful Villages) [Hardcover]

Dominique Reperant (Author, Photographer)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1990

Here are 50 of the most beautiful villages in a country famous for its rural architecture and small towns. They have been selected for their situation in a picturesque landscape, for their authentic state of preservation and for their sheer beauty and ambience. 400 photos.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Reperant has assembled a stunning photographic collection of medieval French villages in often breathtakingly beautiful surroundings. The author/photographer has selected only villages of fewer than 1,050 inhabitants, and his criterion for the "most beautiful" is the "best preserved"--villages whose old buildings predominate in landscapes that remain unspoiled today. Readers may get lost on the trail from village to village because the author provides few guideposts regarding their relation to other locations in France. Brief histories of each site and the architectural details that abound pale in comparison with the ravishingly beautiful color photographs, many of which are two-page spreads. The text includes a list of villages protected by the government, as well as names of nearby hotels and restaurants, with prices and brief menus. Useful for those wishing to visit these little-known architectural treasures and for all armchair travelers.
- Ed ward B. Cone, New York
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: French

Product Details

• Hardcover: 232 pages
• Publisher: Thames & Hudson; 1St Edition edition (October 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0500541620
• ISBN-13: 978-0500541623
• Product Dimensions: 12.2 x 10 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,019,182 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

50 of 51 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PLACE ON EARTH, March 21, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Most Beautiful Villages of France (Most Beautiful Villages) (Hardcover)

France is the most beautiful place on earth--bar none. But different regions of France have such different characteristics and there is a lot more to this wonderful country than Paris, Dijon, Nice, etc. In The Most Beautiful Villages of France, you'll discover gorgeous photographs of little, out-of-the-way towns and villages that will bring you new and unexpected delights. For those lucky enough to actually visit France, this book is definitely a must-have. For those who can only dream, there is no better way! In my opinion, The Most Beautiful Villages of Burgundy, The Most Beautiful Villages of Provence and The Most Beautiful Villages of Tuscany are equally well done. Don't leave home without them!

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I love this book., September 30, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Most Beautiful Villages of France (Most Beautiful Villages) (Hardcover)

Although every picture is astoundingly beautiful, there is one of the home where Andre Breton lived that really takes my breath away. I find myself turning back to it whenever I need an escape. When friends come over, they always ask to see the books in this series. It is worth the price. Also, check out Most Beautiful Villages of Provence and Burgundy. I thought the Tuscany one could have been a little better, but still check it out.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not bad, but ..., March 28, 2008

By 

Paul Weiss (Dundas, Ontario Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Most Beautiful Villages of France (Most Beautiful Villages) (Hardcover)

Dominique Reperant's "village" has fewer than 1,050 inhabitants and he defines "most beautiful" as most preserved. So it's no surprise that his photographic essay that explored even the tiniest corners of France resulted in a collection of impressive shots that showcase France's roots in the medieval middle ages. And while the coffe table sized book will serve as a pleasurable souvenir of a trip into the French countryside, I was considerably underwhelmed with the quality of the photographs. They have a frustrating sameness of style and composition from photograph to photograph that failed to capture the distinctness of each town and enormous variation in the geographical settings of the towns from region to region. And, if there was a rationale to the order in which the towns were presented, it escaped me entirely.

A nice memory to be sure but certainly not a book that I would categorize as so stunning that it would prompt an armchair traveller into booking a trip on the next available flight to France.

Paul Weiss