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Usually ships in 1-2 business days | | Only 1 left in stock, order soon! | | | | | | The elegant châteaux, luxurious estates, and stately private residences built in France over the past several centuries are spectacularly presented in this landmark volume. These dignified houses are remarkable not only for their beauty, but also for the rich history that has imbued their walls for centuries. Often built over long periods of time, expanded and redecorated according to the taste of the period, scarred by revolution and war, and restored magnificently by some of the best-known architects, interior decorators, and artists of their epochs, these great houses are tangible records of France's glorious past-- and present.
More than twenty-five of the most enchanting properties are captured in all their glory. The reader is taken on a photographic tour through the regions of France, with visits to the châteaux in the Loire, Brittany, Burgundy, and Provence, among others. The thresholds of a number of the most private grand houses in and around Paris, the world capital of fashion and décor, are also crossed. Accompanying the magnificent photographs is text describing the fascinating history of each locale.
The diverse architecture, incredible interiors, priceless furniture, painting, and sculpture collections, and fabulous, inventive designs for gardens and the surrounding landscape are focused on in this astounding and complete view of a particularly intriguing way of life that is difficult to conceive of as existing in the late twentieth century. Some of the most famous and beloved houses of the French nation, as well as some of the most private and difficult to visit, are illustrated. This is a book that celebrates the legendary and often-mimicked French life-style at its pinnacle.
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| | Product Details | | Paperback: | 288 pages | | Publisher: | Universe | | Publication Date: | July 15, 1995 | | Language: | English | | ISBN: | 0789300125 | | Package Length: | 11.99 inches | | Package Width: | 11.98 inches | | Package Height: | 1.15 inches | | Package Weight: | 4.51 pounds | | Average Customer Rating: |  based on 5 reviews |
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| | Customer Reviews | Average Customer Review: ( 5 customer reviews )
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
14 of 14 found the following review helpful:
 A nice picture book on France's Chateaux Dec 01, 2003
By ®
I got this because I really missed France after studying architecture there for a semester. This book really captured the same feeling of many of the historical sites I visited. My favorites are Chenonceau and Vaux-le-Vicomte, the French chateaux with formal garden.This paper back version is only 287 pages much shorter then the first hardcover that was about 400-500 pages. I don't quite remembered, but I think there were some lesser chateaux taken out. I found the hardcover for $130 at a local architectural bookstore. So, this definitely a steal at Amazon price of $28. The pictures are very big; every other page is a full page photograph. Some pages have a smaller picture and a written summary. This is more of a picture book with very little written texts, so you can't really use it for writing a resource paper. The picture of the building or site is very clean, since most of these places are full of tourist and it is funny seeing it empty. There are photographs of Chateaux, garden, interior design with furniture, and sculpture. If you like France and garden after the Baroque period, this is a nice book. It would be a five star if they didn't condense the book from the in-depth first edition.
11 of 14 found the following review helpful:
 The Splendor of France Feb 16, 2000
This book is an absolute treasure to anyone who loves French architecture and decoration. It contains spledid photographs of French Chateaux inside and out. While expensive it is worth every cent and then some. A Must!
7 of 9 found the following review helpful:
Splendor Indeed May 13, 2005
By Shannon Deason
This is a nice book on an amazing subject. Maybe I expected too much from this book, I don't know, but though I liked it very much indeed, it did not blow me away. Something was missing, I think it was Versailles and Fountainbleau and maybe Sceaux. I just thought most of the greatest chateaux where absent, although I loved the section on Vaux le Vicomte, now that is a spectacular chateaux by anyones definition; maybe the most beautiful in France...Louis XIV thought so. The photographs where first rate and I did enjoy the book, I just wanted more. Having said that I do recommend it to anyone who in interested in this subject; for those it really is a book worth owning.
FABULOUS JOURNEY INTO FRANCES' BEAUTIFUL CHATEAUS Nov 17, 2009
By Marcy Y
"COFFEETABLEBOOKS"
This is a fabulous coffee table book that I continue to go back to time and time again. Beautiful pictures, large scale book...very well done. A must have for any lover of french architecture.
The Best of Chateaux Books Mar 28, 2007
By Wine Babe
A great and large collection of huge impressive photos for any Francophile that loves the French countryside and it's haute-couture architecture. A super reference for artists and travelers.
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