Bücher veröffentlicht von BRADT PUBN

New from Bradt is the thoroughly updated fifth edition of Lille, the award-winning and critically acclaimed guidebook to this exciting, ever-changing and easily accessible city in Hauts-de-France - the ultimate destination for a city break. Lille's architecture blends the 16th-century cobbled streets typical of old Flanders and the imposing fortress and parks of Louis XIV's France with converted former factories now serving as modern cultural venues. Here history refuses to stand still, and the city has not stopped finding new ways to celebrate its traditions, routinely toasting contemporary innovations. One of France's leading centres for gastronomy, Lille constantly re-invents itself with ever more exciting places to eat - whether you share a sandwich with artists in a former post office building or seek out tomorrow's Michelin-starred chefs - plus new places to explore, relax and stay. Being elected European Capital of Culture in 2004 led to Lille becoming one of France's most cultural and artistic cities - and arguably its party capital too. With Bradt's Lille, dance a Sunday-night tango with strangers in a Renaissance cloister, or order onion soup at dawn. You can admire France's best art collection outside Paris, attend a biennial international arts festival or head for the amazing museums and sites in nearby towns, linked by an excellent metro and tram network. Alternatively, you might go shopping in Lille's famous discount designer stores or at its legendary kerbside flea markets. Or venture beyond the city to discover the patchwork of history that characterises northern France, from Henry V's battle of Agincourt to World War I trenches and the beaches of Dunkirk. New elements of this edition include a chapter on culture, featuring the Lille 3000 international arts festival; coverage of self-drive possibilities, food festivals, World War tourist destinations, and both new and expanded museums and art galleries; and updated or wholly new reviews of the best places to eat, drink and stay (the latter now including self-catering options). With easy Eurostar access from the UK (plus high-speed train links from other French cities, and Brussels), Lille is the perfect short-haul getaway - with Bradt's Lille guidebook the consummate companion.

New from Bradt is the thoroughly updated second edition of The Vendee, the only English-language guidebook to focus on this part of Pays de la Loire. Also covered in this guide to an increasingly popular French region are Nantes, Pornic, La Rochelle and the Ile de Re. Written by Angela Bird, who for almost 50 years has owned a home in the region, and award-winning travel writer Murray Stewart, and updated by adventurer Ed Cooper, Bradt's guidebook offers comprehensive coverage of a beguiling area, detailing everything from family holidays to walks, cycling, local cuisine and history. The Vendee offers all the benefits of a destination that is well established with both French and British visitors, with easy access and short drive times via UK ferries adding to its appeal. Popular with campers and self-caterers, the Vendee's sunny climate and 140 km of sandy beaches, plus its tree-lined canals and open marshland, make for a diverse outdoor playground. Bradt's The Vendee includes suggestions for walks and the best places for birdwatching. This goes hand in hand with a new regional policy of promoting recreation premised on nature and wellbeing. Thanks to the authors' rich personal history with the area, the guide also reveals the quirks and themes which give the Vendee its own distinct character, as well as straying just beyond the area's boundaries to incorporate La Rochelle and Nantes, both entry points for those arriving by air and both offering urban distractions for the occasional rainy day. Although the region has no true cities, or even large towns, the guide includes details of the many local museums which provide easily accessible insights into the bloody history of an area which has, at times, been central to the evolution of modern-day France. New elements in this edition of Bradt's The Vendee include expanded coverage of architecture, the Vendee sections of a 1,300-km Atlantic cycle route (La Velodysee), France's most dazzling son-et-lumiere show and new restaurant listings that reflect the region's growing reputation for wine, collection of Michelin-starred eateries and long history as a paradise for seafood-lovers.

This new seventh edition of Bradt's Georgia remains the only dedicated guide to this fascinating, budget-friendly Caucasian country, where tourism continues to increase and domestic travel is increasingly straightforward. Thoroughly updated throughout to reflect recent developments, this guidebook includes revised and new listings for hotels, homestays, restaurants, what to see and do, and how to get around by public transport. At the intersection of Europe and Asia, nestled between Russia, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Turkey, Georgia is the hub of the Caucasus - a country known for its mountains and Black Sea coast, and its wonderful food, wine and all-round hospitality. With Bradt's Georgia, you can experience the new alongside the old in a country where most cultural and historical sights are free of charge or very cheap. The capital, Tbilisi, boasts a charming, cobbled old town, the centuries-old tiled baths of Orbeliani and numerous cultural highlights, but has also seen major developments recently, including conspicuous new projects such as the Peace Bridge. Already famous for the cave monastery of Vardzia and the ancient wine-growing region of Kakheti, Georgia's more remote areas are becoming more accessible. Networks of rural guesthouses and hiking trails (including the increasingly popular Transcaucasian Trail, a volunteer-led project to create two long-distance hiking routes) are being developed alongside a push towards more sustainable and responsible tourism. On the Black Sea, the city of Batumi has developed into a glitzy playground for regional tourism. Appropriately, given that the country is considered to be the birthplace of wine, the Georgian wine industry features prominently, with particular emphasis on the UNESCO-listed natural qvevri wines (made in clay amphorae set in the ground). Also covered are: skiing at Gudauri, Bakuriani and Mestia; cycling; the World Heritage sites of Mtskheta, Svaneti and Gelati/Bagrati; Georgian fusion cuisine (now celebrated in Tblisi's stylish new restuarants); 5th-century churches and other Christian architecture; cave cities; and Georgian polyphonic singing. Bradt's unique guide to Georgia is the ideal companion for travellers, from serious hikers to wine buffs, high-end culture lovers to winter-sports enthusiasts, and city-break aficionados to backpackers of all ages.