This is the fourth in my “Travel Reading” series of posts. For a list of books that deal with French culture and politics in general, check out my post, “Travel Reading: French Culture“. For more information on French Food, take a look at Travel Reading: Food and Culinary Writings. To read about the experiences of people “living the dream” in France, see my post Travel Reading: Personal Narratives on Life in France.

The unfortunate state of the U.S. economy has resulted in a decline in the number of American tourists visiting European countries, especially France. Even though, to me, that sounds like the best time to travel, my bank account is telling me otherwise. That doesn’t mean that I can’t keep scouring the Internet for great flights and hotel deals, though- and while I plan my next European adventure, I’ve found plenty of reading material to stoke my passion for my favorite French destinations.

Taschen’s Paris by Angelika Taschen (2008)
Eye candy for Francophiles, this beautiful hardcover volume is full of Dr. Angelika Taschen’s personal Parisian favorites- hotels, boutiques, restaurants, bars, cafés, and more. The photographs make you feel like you’re traveling along with her and her recommendations are accurate and insightful. Consider this “required reading” for your next Parisian adventure.

France (Evergreen Marketing)
This beautiful and informative bi-monthly publication was originally only available in the UK. Lucky for American readers, they have expanded their distribution and a yearly subscription to France in the U.S. costs $32.57 (for 6 issues). Though this is a bit more than I would normally pay for a magazine subscription, it is absolutely worth it. Each issue is packed with oversized glossy images of France, interesting articles on different facets of French culture, and short bios of and interviews with French celebrities and political figures. If you’re in the market to purchase property in France, the real estate listings in the back of each issue will prove useful (or fodder for fantasy).

One Hundred & One Beautiful Small Towns in France (101 Beautiful Small Towns Series) by Simonetta Greggio (2006)
If you like to get away from France’s big city and head out into les provences (the provinces), you’ll enjoy this lovely photography book. One Hundred & One Beautiful Small Towns in France takes you on a pictorial tour through fishing villages in Normandy and Brittany, towns nestled into the Pyrenees, and medieval villages throughout the Provence region. Informative sidebars give insights on local artisanal products, historical tidbits, and must-see views and attractions. This would make a wonderful gift or a nice addition to your coffee table collection.

You can get these books at Amazon or other book sellers.