France: 1001 Sights: An Archaeological and Historical Guide

Rating:
Summary: A Valuable Travelling Companion
Review: France,1001 Sights (Anderson & Lea, 2002, University of Calgary Press) will enrich your perspective on the country, its people and the evolution of their society. It provides detailed information about remnants of human activity in France from the dawn of man in Europe (about 900,000 B.C.) through the first millennium A.D . This window provides a glimpse of paleo-, meso- and neolithic civilizations through the Iron and Bronze ages as well as the Celtic, Roman, Gallo-Roman, Merovingian, Carolingian and Viking periods of the country's evolution. This interesting and compact book complements what is available in other tour books, which focus primarily on the heritage of late Medieval and Renaissance France, by providing an ancient historical background for those later periods. In addition, although existing books make reference to the most spectacular of the remnants of early civilizations in France (e.g., Carnac, Lascaux or Nimes), this book features not only those well-known sites but also many, many others of exceptional quality throughout the country.

Anderson and Lea begin with an efficient overview of human habitation, invasion, conquest and assimilation in France, with pertinent commentary on language, religion and governance as they influenced the country's architecture, roads, commerce and organization. This sets the stage for the detailed chapters that follow on historical and archeological sites across the country in which hundreds of individual sights -- dolmens, menhirs, bridges, aqueducts, baths, villas, forts, etc. -- are described.

The book is organized by regions, a presentation that fits well with the regional historical perspective provided at the outset. Then, within each region, sites are located within current French Departments and relative to major cities. Finally, each site is described thoroughly in terms of the sights it contains, their historical significance, and how to find them. Directions are explicit in terms of route numbers, compass points, landmarks, distances from local centers and relative difficulty of access roads and paths (e.g., where pavement may be lacking or some walking/hiking is required to reach a sight).

In addition to the historical context provided to enhance the reader's appreciation of each sight, other strengths of the book include a glossary for archeological and architectural terms that may not be readily familiar, numerous black-and-white and color photographs of many spectacular sights, a bibliography of useful resources and a list of additional sights beyond those featured, for those who cannot get enough of these historical treasures.

This book will enhance forever the way one looks at France and appreciates the ancient relics of its countryside and cities, its regional differences and the formative millennia of its history, which was influenced by so many cultural forces. Enjoy this guide before as well as during your travels in France, to make the most of your time there. And even if you cannot travel there, use this book to complement other historical accounts of French civilization from the dawn of early man through the influence of the Celts, the Romans, the Germanic tribes and the Vikings (among others). It is a fascinating history that the stones tell, and Anderson and Lea have translated it well.

Rating:
Summary: A Valuable Travelling Companion
Review: France,1001 Sights (Anderson & Lea, 2002, University of Calgary Press) will enrich your perspective on the country, its people and the evolution of their society. It provides detailed information about remnants of human activity in France from the dawn of man in Europe (about 900,000 B.C.) through the first millennium A.D . This window provides a glimpse of paleo-, meso- and neolithic civilizations through the Iron and Bronze ages as well as the Celtic, Roman, Gallo-Roman, Merovingian, Carolingian and Viking periods of the country's evolution. This interesting and compact book complements what is available in other tour books, which focus primarily on the heritage of late Medieval and Renaissance France, by providing an ancient historical background for those later periods. In addition, although existing books make reference to the most spectacular of the remnants of early civilizations in France (e.g., Carnac, Lascaux or Nimes), this book features not only those well-known sites but also many, many others of exceptional quality throughout the country.

Anderson and Lea begin with an efficient overview of human habitation, invasion, conquest and assimilation in France, with pertinent commentary on language, religion and governance as they influenced the country's architecture, roads, commerce and organization. This sets the stage for the detailed chapters that follow on historical and archeological sites across the country in which hundreds of individual sights -- dolmens, menhirs, bridges, aqueducts, baths, villas, forts, etc. -- are described.

The book is organized by regions, a presentation that fits well with the regional historical perspective provided at the outset. Then, within each region, sites are located within current French Departments and relative to major cities. Finally, each site is described thoroughly in terms of the sights it contains, their historical significance, and how to find them. Directions are explicit in terms of route numbers, compass points, landmarks, distances from local centers and relative difficulty of access roads and paths (e.g., where pavement may be lacking or some walking/hiking is required to reach a sight).

In addition to the historical context provided to enhance the reader's appreciation of each sight, other strengths of the book include a glossary for archeological and architectural terms that may not be readily familiar, numerous black-and-white and color photographs of many spectacular sights, a bibliography of useful resources and a list of additional sights beyond those featured, for those who cannot get enough of these historical treasures.

This book will enhance forever the way one looks at France and appreciates the ancient relics of its countryside and cities, its regional differences and the formative millennia of its history, which was influenced by so many cultural forces. Enjoy this guide before as well as during your travels in France, to make the most of your time there. And even if you cannot travel there, use this book to complement other historical accounts of French civilization from the dawn of early man through the influence of the Celts, the Romans, the Germanic tribes and the Vikings (among others). It is a fascinating history that the stones tell, and Anderson and Lea have translated it well.