Splendor of France

Imagine a dwelling so splendid that the king of France, after spending the evening there as a guest, claps the owner in jail for the rest of his life for attempting to overshadow the monarchy! Vaux-le-Vicomte is but one of many chateaux featured in this volume that could incite the envy of royals. These timeless residences, many of which are still in private hands today, collectively depict the noble heritage of the French nation and a sense of its glory. Highest-quality photographs that often bleed off the page to fill entire spreads allow the viewer to fall into the pictures, making one feel as if one is actually living the fairy tale life depicted here rather than suffering the fate of an armchair reader. The photographs portray not only the buildings' exteriors but also their formal gardens and grounds, resplendent interior furnishings, and fabulous art treasures. A map at the beginning of the book highlights the wide geographic distribution of the chateaux, including a number of architectural marvels from Paris and environs. With 330 color illustrations, this is highly recommended as a sumptuous overview of the subject.