Chateaux of the Loire

Rating:
Summary: BEAUTIFUL!
Review: As a Frenchwoman who spent last summer touring the Loire and its chateaux, I was a bit disappointed in this book. Had I wanted a book about French history, I would have bought a book about French history. I was looking for a lot more of the "now" and a lot less of the "then." The old black and white photos may delight some, but I found them a major disappointment. The chateaux, as they are today, are a glorious feast for the eyes; more up-to-date photos would have garnered this book five stars as far as I'm concerned. But all that aside, it is a lovely, over-sized coffee table book and one that should be "required reading" for anyone anticipating a visit to the Loire.

Rating:
Summary: Transported through words and images
Review: This book is an excellent investment. Gorgeous photography often depicts interiors as well as the exteriors of famous and also less well-known chateaux. Photographs (taken in various seasons of the year) present a large number of chateaux and castle complexes. The text is concise. Each chateau is described in a lively essay that is informative for architectural, historical, and travel details. A useful synopsis outlines a sight-seeing intinerary for those readers planning to visit the Loire Valley chateaux in person. Between the engaging text and beautiful images, reading (and re-reading) this book is a beautiful journey in itself.