To many people, Gascony and the Dordogne comprise the quintessence of what is French. The region has a timelessness about it, having suffered less from the upheavals of the modern world than most other parts of France. Its beautiful and varied landscape has seen many dramatic events in French, and indeed British, history while also providing the backdrop to some of the most glorious Romanesque architecture in Europe. In this updated edition of his book first published as The Companion Guideto South-West France, Richard Barber proves an enthusiastic and discriminating escort, offering especial enlightenment on medieval history and architecture, his own fields of expertise. Fully and helpfully illustrated with photographs and plans, the guide covers a wide area from Poitiers to the Pyrenees, ranging from well-known sights such as the Dordogne valley itself to the delights of the little-known countryside of the Gers.