I am a true Francophile, so I was thrilled to read the new book 26 Gorgeous Hikes on the Western Cote d’Azur. This slim volume is written by Florence Chatzigianis, an avid hiker, who spends part of the year France and the rest in the US.

The book concentrates on the Cote d’Azur, one of my favorite areas in France, and offers great descriptions of half-day hikes, including:

• when to go
• how to get there
• hiking time
• distance
• difficulty (from easy to moderate)

There is a map of each hike and lots of pictures to pique your interest. Another feature that makes this a great book to bring along on your trip to the Cote d’Azur is the descriptions of the flora, fauna, history and geology of the area. I learned so much about the area that I am anxious to return, book-in-hand to hike in the beautiful Cote d’Azur.

The book is published by Azure Alive