Reading about a place before traveling is always fun. I read The Road from the Past: Traveling through History in France by Ina Caro. The book actually covers provence, loire valley, dordogne, and paris. It took her almost 20 years to write and she traveled to each of the areas and it was amazing. I was not aware of the link between France and England, for example King Richard the Lion Heart spoke almost no english and lived most of his life in France - his mother was Eleanor of Aquitanne. Information about the hundred years war and why chateaux are built where they are is quite interesting. I highly recommend this book - a wonderful read.

Carol Toronto, Ontario