I received this book quite some time ago and forgot to review it. I did not take the trip that I thought I would, so I forgot about the book. I still hope to go someday and feel that the book will be very useful when I do go. It is a beautiful book. ( )

26 gorgeous hikes has a nice format and is handy to take along with its detailed maps... each chapter/ hike shows the distance, how much time it takes, elevation, difficulty and a reference to the IGN maps... the table of hikes represents a nice overview... the map symbols are great and so is the division of experience levels... every route has individual maps how to get there, local contacts and local fauna... it tells you what time of year is best to hike and what to bring... I liked the fact that the authors talk about "responsible hiking"!! the book contains actual pictures of the local signs with their colorr coding as this could become confusing if not frustrating... I also liked the mention of local customs and natural history... all in all the book is so well laid out and described that one almost does not have to travel!! ( )

It's good to find a book sometimes that is exactly what it advertises to be, nothing more and nothing less. I found this book to be a well organized and very informative book on hiking in the South East of France. Finally a book that provides not just the essence but all the little details you really need to know when traveling to a region previously unfamiliar to you. I would say that readers should be fairly familiar with French since some assumptions are made on ease of communication whilst in the area. I was excited to see that this book covers a part of France I'm very curious about: St. Tropez. This little beach community is famous within Europe for much the same reasons as Cannes is throughout the world, although be it in a much smaller way. The city has been used many times over for French films and I can't wait to see all the familiar locations from for example the Louis de Funes films. ( )

26 Gorgeous Hikes on the Western Cote d'Azur is an illustrated guide that invites you to slow down to the rhythm of your footsteps, and soak in the Western French Riviera's natural beauty. With detailed trail descriptions, hiking maps, trek data such as time, distance, difficulty and elevation profiles for twenty-six hikes.

I've never been to the Cote d'Azur, but this book really made me want to go there -- it looks stunning. Because it's a hiking guide, it's probably best to skim the text before a trip to decide which hikes to go on, then read them more fully when actually on location. The text is easy to read, and includes many helpful sidenotes about the region and its history. ( )