Discovering France

"A witty, engaging narrative style…[Robb's] approach is particularly engrossing." —New York Times Book Review A narrative of exploration—full of strange landscapes and even stranger inhabitants—that explains the enduring fascination of France. While Gustave Eiffel was changing the skyline of Paris, large parts of France were still terra incognita. Even in the age of railways and newspapers, France was a land of ancient tribal divisions, prehistoric communication networks, and pre-Christian beliefs. French itself was a minority language. Graham Robb describes that unknown world in arresting narrative detail. He recounts the epic journeys of mapmakers, scientists, soldiers, administrators, and intrepid tourists, of itinerant workers, pilgrims, and herdsmen with their millions of migratory domestic animals. We learn how France was explored, charted, and colonized, and how the imperial influence of Paris was gradually extended throughout a kingdom of isolated towns and villages. The Discovery of France explains how the modern nation came to be and how poorly understood that nation still is today. Above all, it shows how much of France—past and present—remains to be discovered. A New York Times Notable Book, Publishers Weekly Best Book, Slate Best Book, and Booklist Editor's Choice.

Entertaining at home in gracious French style. Born from her experience of everyday living in France, Sharon Santoni reveals the gracious, easy French way of entertaining guests at her countryside home, year-round. Personal stories evoke the spirit of the French lifestyle, while gorgeous photos make us feel right at home. Santoni creates lush bouquets from her garden and utilizes resources from surrounding nature to lay gorgeous tables both indoors and outdoors. Venues range from a Sunday morning breakfast on the patio, to a ladies lunch in her lush garden, a formal dinner in her dining room, and a picnic by the river. Santoni also shares 15 favorite recipes utilizing seasonal foods. Find inspiration for your tables throughout the seasons, and discover the simple pleasure of entertaining friends and family. Sharon Santoni writes the popular blog My French Country Home. She is the author of My Stylish French Girlfriends (Gibbs Smith). She resides in Normandy, France.

-12 of the most beautiful driving routes through France -A dedicated section on France's official UNESCO World Heritage sites -Stunning photographs, some in gatefold format -Detailed touring maps -A comprehensive road atlas Excellent food, sublime wines, a unique cultural heritage and magnificent countryside - all this and more is what you can expect to find in France, one of the most popular countries to visit in Europe. Attractions range from the tall peaks of the Alps and the Pyrenees, to the lovely Loire Valley, to the sophisticated Côte d'Azur. Then there are the great cities - the capital, Paris, and a number of enchanting regional centres, such as Strasbourg, Lyon or Marseille. France invites you to discover its glorious treasures by car. This big travel handbook shows you the highlights along twelve beautiful routes - from ancient pilgrimage routes to remote country lanes, from the Massif Central to the famous regions and landscapes like Normandy, Champagne or the Alsace. This volume is supplemented by a guide to all French UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage sites. In addition, there are plans of all the major towns and a 176-page road atlas, making Discover France a unique combination of picture book, travel guide and atlas.

Going on a family vacation to France or just want to learn more about this amazing country? Make sure you get the most out of the trip with France - Travel For Kids Dinobibi and Ben will join you in every step of the journey. You will have so much fun discovering France- its history, geography, flags and symbols, wildlife, culture and more! Whether preparing for a vacation, or simply wanting to learn about France, this book gives you all you need to know, fun places to visit, tasty food to try, and fun, interactive pop quizzes throughout. Come join Dinobibi and Ben on an adventure and DISCOVER France!.

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 Château de Cormatin in Burgundy to the fairytale Château d'Haroué 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 Maulévrier 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.

A wholly original history of France, filled with a lifetime’s knowledge and passion—by the author of the New York Times bestseller Parisians. Beginning with the Roman army’s first recorded encounter with the Gauls and ending in the era of Emmanuel Macron, France takes readers on an endlessly entertaining journey through French history. Frequently hilarious, always surprising, Graham Robb’s France combines the stylistic versatility of a novelist with the deep understanding of a scholar. Robb’s own adventures and discoveries while living, working, and traveling in France connect this tour through space and time with on-the-ground experience. There are scenes of wars and revolutions from the plains of Provence to the slums and boulevards of Paris. Robb conveys with wit and precision what it felt like to look over the shoulder of a young Louis XIV as he planned the vast garden of Versailles, and the dangerous thrill of having a ringside seat at the French revolution. Some of the protagonists may be familiar, but appear here in a very different light—Caesar, Charlemagne, Louis XIV, Napoleon Bonaparte, General Charles de Gaulle. This extraordinary narrative is the fruit of decades of research and thirty thousand miles on a self-propelled, two-wheeled time machine (a bicycle). Even seasoned Francophiles will wonder if they really know that terra incognita on the edge of Europe that is currently referred to as “France.”