A tribute to Provence, its villages and its spirit of place which continues to entrance visitors
The Greeks, the Romans, the barbarians of the North and the Moors have all left their traces in its villages and small towns, from the hills and mountains of the Lubéron to the villages perchés of the Alpes-Maritimes.
It is in smaller communities that the true Provençal spirit can be found: in sunlight falling across the tightly grouped terracotta roofs, or in the velvety shade in an ancient square – the country of Marcel Pagnol and Jean de Florette. Such scenes come alive here in Hugh Palmer’s radiant photographs and Michael Jacobs’ evocative accounts.
The book opens with the villages of the Vaucluse and the Bouches-du-Rhône then moves east to the Var and eventually the mountains of the Alpine départements, drawing out the special characteristics of each region. Here are the tranquil villages of the centre, but in stark contrast are the fortified hill villages of the east, perched on crests or terraced along the mountainside.
'Evocative photographs whet the appetite for a trip to the south'
Sunday Express
'A glowing celebration of the lovely villages of Provence … a perfect choice for either armchair travel or to inspire your next trip to the South'
Destination France Magazine
'The photographs of simple churches, fountains, shady squares and cobbled lanes demand leisurely observation … beautiful. Highly recommended'
Library Journal
Format: Paperback with flaps
Edition Type: Compact edition
Size: 24.2 x 19.5 cm
Extent: 216 pp
Illustrations: 304
Publication date: 14 May 2012
ISBN: 9780500289969