{"product_id":"the-most-beautiful-villages-of-the-loire","title":"The Most Beautiful Villages of the Loire","description":"\u003cp\u003eUsually associated with splendid Renaissance cha teaux and historical monuments  the Loire valley is in fact a place of even greater interest than the image of popular perception. The Loire River itself is the longest in France and passes through a succession of landscapes  many of them of a richness that proves this is truly \"the garden of France.\" And there is variety too  reflected in the buildings and settings of the beautiful villages so stunningly illustrated in this book. Traveling west  James Bentley and Hugh Palmer take us first to the communities around Orleans  the villages of the Loiret and Cher departements. We then progress to the lands around Blois and Tours  where  it is said  the purest French is spoken. Here begin the villages with the great chatea ux  such as Chambord  Cheverny  and Azay-le-Rideau  reached by long roads lined with poplars or lying beside the banks of one of the many tributaries of the Loire. The slopes here are frequently vine-clad  producing the delicious white wines that make such a fine accompaniment to the traditional fish cuisine of the region. And finally we arrive at the villages around Angers and Nantes where willow-lined rivers divide a landscape of quiet opulence  and green fields alternate with market gardens growing vegetables  flowers  and fruit. Over thirty villages of the Loire valley are described and beautifully photographed in this book  which is completed by special sections on wine and food and abbeys and churches. As with all the volumes in The Most Beautiful Villages series  there are appendices listing the most important sites  markets  hotels  and restaurants. 275 color illustrations.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"My Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44946854084661,"sku":"ByrdShop_0500510512","price":34.73,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0627\/8139\/0901\/files\/9780500510513.jpg?v=1769969222","url":"https:\/\/atxbooks.com\/products\/the-most-beautiful-villages-of-the-loire","provider":"ATX Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}