sur les chemins de Compostelle
Un artiste Chinois, pèlerin de l'art, Ji Dahai, published by Editions Ouest-France

Award winning Chinese artist Ji Dahai has travelled all over China on the Buddhist and Taoiste pilgrim routes such as Putuo Shan, Jiuhua Shan and other sacred mountains. In spring 2004 in a house in Songzhuang, the largest artists’ village in Beijing, he heard about the pilgrim routes in France to Santiago de Compostela. The thought of travelling on a Christian route intrigued him; he would meet people from cultures he didn’t know of and as he says, ‘see them without prejudice.’

Packing four mandarin treasures in his bag – paintbrushes of wolf hair, pens with black ink made from smoked pine, ink from natural pigments and Xuan de Anhui’s paper, made from straw, rice and sandalwood bark, he set off to travel the ‘nine thousand miles on the giant silver bird’ to France.

Ji Dahai has written the short text, and illustrated the work throughout his journey from Puy-en-Velay in the Auvergne to Santiago de Compostela, one of the four pilgrim routes through France. On the way he finds comparisons with Buddhist traditions. A knot design carved on a stone in the church at Perse à Espalion also appears in Chinese folklore where it is considered good fortune, as well as in Buddhist ‘chapelets’.

‘Today’ he says, ‘we are in a world where we spend more time in front of the computer than in nature.’ Here he sets about rectifying this. The language, like the text and drawings is uncomplicated, and easy to understand as this pilgrim of art describes his journey of self-discovery.

See also: Pilgrim Route to Santiago de Compostelo

La Bourgogne : De villages en vignobles
by Michel Duvoisin

No French needed to appreciate this book. Well known painter Michel Duvoisin presents his work of the Burgundian villages in sketch-book form. A glimpse through the archway in Noyers, the Clos de Vougeot which he describes as ‘a cathedral to the glory of Bacchus’, and of course, the Canal de Bourgogne, all perfectly captured in soft tones of green and brown, highlighted with autumnal colours. The spirit has been captured perfectly.

Balades sur les routes en Bourgogne
by Catherine Vialle, Jean-Dominique Longubardo

Written like a journal, this little book of tours around Burgundy is both charming and informative. Each of the 11 chapters explores a theme – the secrets of the Morvan, the beautiful roofs of the Dukes of Burgundy or the roads to Vézelay. The illustrations are vignettes; tile details, a carving, the vignerons’ baskets, ancient corkscrews, le-rat-de-cave – the candles to light up the wine cellar. Together with maps and photos, the additional knowledge will help you enjoy your trips all the more.

Les Grands Crus de Bourgogne, Vus du Ciel
by Gérard Corret

Gérard Corret invites us on a journey over the 33 grand crus which form the reputation of Burgundy wines. The book “Les Grands Crus de Bourgogne Vus du Ciel” [Burgundy Grand Crus seen from the Skies] provides a fascinating view over the region’s vineyards. From Chablis to Côtes de Nuits and Côtes de Beaune, one majestic landscape follows the other. These photos also provide an original viewpoint over the ancient architecture.

Each grand cru is visually marked out and identified on the photo. On the opposite page the text (in English and French) presents the vineyards. 24.50 euros.

Les Grands Crus de Bourgogne Vus du Ciel

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