The architectural heritage of France owes a lot to its kings, who embellished their kingdom for more than 1,500 years … From their necropolis, – the basilica of Saint-Denis inaugurated on June 11, 1144, which was the first church in the world to be built in the Gothic style – up to the Château de Chantilly, – the work of the last prince, who became a museum after his death in 1884 – historian Dimitri Casali lists in this richly illustrated book the most beautiful treasures of our regions. Great East
and Bourgogne Franche-Comté are not forgotten. The palace of the Dukes and States of Burgundy in Dijon (21), the cathedral of Reims (51), the citadel of Besançon (25), the fortress of Neuf-Brisach (68), the place Stanislas in Nancy (54), the Royal Saltworks of Arc-et-Senans (25)… The opportunity is perfect to revise the history of France over these luxurious pages strewn with blue boxes delivering anecdotes, dates, portraits or little stories in the big one. Even if his conclusion is questionable, moreover it is a question, Dimitri Casali has the good taste to quote just before another historian, the illustrious Marc Bloch, who will put everyone in agreement: “The French people cannot understand France if they are not able to vibrate both on the subject of the coronation of Reims and the evocation of the feast of the Federation of 1790 ”.
Ed. Albin Michel. 272 pages. 35 €.
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