This is a digest. Knopf is Gallimard correspondant in USA. Gallimard published various guides-books in french about Loire Valley. This area is so much filled with castles and magnificient landscapes that one book was not enough. Knopf US edition for this digest is quite a good choice for those who want to get more than the plain Michelin Green Guide. Castles drawings are just extraordinary. They built Gallimard reputation for guide-books. Don't forget to buy Arthur Frommer's, Lonely Planet or Michelin Red Guide if you don't know yet where to stay. Knopf guide to the Loire Valley will not be very useful in that matter.