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.

Cawdor, one of Scotland’s most magnificent estates is the focus of Highland Living . Reflecting both the rusticity of the locale and the elegance of the castle’s grounds and interiors, inspiration and visual delights await as the door is opened to the castle’s gardens, kitchens and private apartments. Coupling impressive antiques with cosy creature comforts, Angelika Cawdor has created a charming décor of discerning Scottish style within this historic house. Accompanied by exquisite colour photography, the book opens with a history of Cawdor Castle, from its beginnings in the late 14th century and tales of Macbeth, to the present day in which the estate spans 18,000 acres of forest, grazing land and wildlife management, an exquisite kitchen garden, modern organic gardens, a glorious cutting garden and, of course, the manor with its attractive tapestries and furnishings. Cawdor tartans and Highland colour tones add to the perspective of what life is like on a working estate in Scotland and make this book a page-turner of vibrant images, information and insight. A section on the recipes of Cawdor Castle shows off Scottish culinary traditions—porridge, salmon, and haggis, as well as modern recipes for other traditional delights—partridge, roast rhubarb and apple crumble, and ginger beer, to name a few. The book is completed by an address book of the best places to visit, restaurants and lodges, and shopping for everything from chocolates to organic vegetables. A sumptuous book devoted to a special part of Inverness, Highland Living will be cherished by anyone who adores the traditions of Scotland and Scottish life.

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.

Cawdor, one of Scotland’s most magnificent estates is the focus of Highland Living . Reflecting both the rusticity of the locale and the elegance of the castle’s grounds and interiors, inspiration and visual delights await as the door is opened to the castle’s gardens, kitchens and private apartments. Coupling impressive antiques with cosy creature comforts, Angelika Cawdor has created a charming décor of discerning Scottish style within this historic house. Accompanied by exquisite colour photography, the book opens with a history of Cawdor Castle, from its beginnings in the late 14th century and tales of Macbeth, to the present day in which the estate spans 18,000 acres of forest, grazing land and wildlife management, an exquisite kitchen garden, modern organic gardens, a glorious cutting garden and, of course, the manor with its attractive tapestries and furnishings. Cawdor tartans and Highland colour tones add to the perspective of what life is like on a working estate in Scotland and make this book a page-turner of vibrant images, information and insight. A section on the recipes of Cawdor Castle shows off Scottish culinary traditions—porridge, salmon, and haggis, as well as modern recipes for other traditional delights—partridge, roast rhubarb and apple crumble, and ginger beer, to name a few. The book is completed by an address book of the best places to visit, restaurants and lodges, and shopping for everything from chocolates to organic vegetables. A sumptuous book devoted to a special part of Inverness, Highland Living will be cherished by anyone who adores the traditions of Scotland and Scottish life.