Gift in memory of Helen Wilson.

Shows and describes the southwestern region of France also known as the Perigord

An insider’s tour of France’s most beloved and beautiful villages uncovers the country’s hidden treasures. The Best Loved Villages of France brings the reader on a tour of forty-four of the country’s most treasured destinations. Always picturesque, but often well-kept secrets, the book offers insight into village life and local history. Take a tour of a crumbling medieval fortress with the mayor of Lavardin or peruse the maritime objects found at sea by a mustached fisherman in Saint-Suliac. Stroll along the coast of the Wissant bay windsurfer’s paradise or promenade through the manicured grounds of Vaux-le-Vicomte. Watch the sunrise over the fairy-tale castle in Montsoreau or enjoy a fresh langoustine dinner in Piana, Corsica. This book offers an illustrated tour around all twenty-two regions of France, from Provence and the Alps, to Normandy and the Loire. Aerial and intimate photographs invite the reader to explore these splendid locales, while the descriptions, anecdotes, and interviews with local village-dwellers plunge you into the individual history and character of France’s diverse regions. The villages featured in the book were selected in a popular vote by the French public and they represent an authentic journey into the heart of France.

A celebration of one of the most rich and varied landscapes in Europe, here are thirty-six villages and towns from all over Tuscany chosen both for their intrinsic beauty and for the part they have played in Tuscan history.

An intimate guide to the villages of London, filled with great ideas for days out which will delight tourists and locals alike.

True Provencal spirit comes alive here through photographs and evocative accounts of the best-loved of all French provinces.

Beautiful Villages gives a comprehensive review of rural construction practices in contemporary China through a number of projects, such as the intervention of artists and art exhibitions, industrialisation efforts, and the creation of new social landscapes. In order to explore the social and historical significance of recent architectural work in rural areas, the book presents around 40 projects, most of which are the works of some of the most influential architects in China. The perspective of Beautiful Villages on rural development provides valuable insight for both government officials and architects alike. AUTHOR: Dr. Zhang Xiaochun is an associate professor at Tongji University College of Architecture and Urban Planning and the director of the editorial board of Time Architecture. She is mainly engaged in urban architecture, the protection and renewal of historic buildings, and the renovation of rural architecture. She also pays close attention to interdisciplinary research, such as cultural anthropology. SELLING POINT: * A comprehensive review of rural architecture in contemporary China 400 colour images

This work takes the reader on a tour through virgin coastal hamlets, sun-kissed terracotta villages, and lush green hilltop towns, while vibrant photography illustrates local legends, customs, activities and fiestas, and in-depth captions introduce readers to the sights, sounds and smells of Mexico.

Villages are the very embodiment of Englishness. The village inn and the local farm, great houses, humble cottages and beautiful country gardens speak of a way of life that has developed peacefully since Anglo-Saxon times. A few days spent in England's idyllic villages offers urban dwellers and foreign visitors a revitalizing glimpse of a more tranquil existence, full of history, legend, literature and artistic heritage. The richness and diversity of the English village is recorded here in absorbing texts by James Bentley and magnificent photography by Hugh Palmer. Grouped by area - northern, midland, eastern, southern and western - and sub-divided by county, this is a seductive celebration of our most beautiful villages.

This book features 101 towns that represent the twenty diverse regions of Italy and their varied landscapes.