Churches, Cathedrals and Cloisters: Germany, Austria and Switzerland by Rolf Toman (Feierabend Verlag) in 176 large-format pages the most beautiful monuments to arise out of 1250 years of German, Austrian and Swiss sacred architecture. The luxurious illustrations extend from the time of Charlemagne to the close of the twentieth century. The text thus offers an intensive overview of these thematic focal points and the correlating architectural history of Europe. The individual titles go into detail about distinctive features of each country and their most significant national monuments. Characteristics unique to each epoch are addressed in brief introductions, followed by large-format illustrations with detailed and specific information about each of the buildings presented in the book.

Great Monasteries of Europe by Bernhard Schutz, photographs by Henri Gaud, Joseph Martin, Florian Monheim, Antonio Quattrone, Marco Schneiders (Abbeville Press) 550 full-color illustrations. This remarkable volume is the most comprehensive examination to date of the art and architecture of European monasteries, featuring an authoritative text and more than five hundred stunning, full-color photographs.

European cultural history is inextricably linked to the presence of monasteries, especially during their flowering in the Middle Ages. In addition to serving as religious refuges, monasteries offered sanctu­ary for the pursuits of art, education, science, and book production. This remarkable volume, featuring an authoritative text and over five hundred stunning, full-color photographs, is the most lavish and comprehen­sive examination to date of the architecture and art of European monasteries from early Carolingian examples in the eighth century to a modern structure by Le Corbusier in 1960.

This unsurpassed survey presents a fresh chronicle of a largely overlooked subject as well as hundreds of mar­velous images, many of them newly photographed, of more than 150 of the most interesting and best preserved monasteries in Spain, Portugal, France, Great Britain, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Poland, the Czech Republic, and Italy—all of which are accessible to visitors. Over the centuries a number of buildings, including churches, in these monastic complexes have been masterworks of architecture. Among the notable places shown here are Mont-Saint-Michel, a wondrous Benedictine sanctuary off the coast of Brittany, Alcobaça, a treasured Cistercian monastery in Portugal from the early Gothic period, and the fabled pilgrimage site in Assisi founded by St Francis.

In an insightful text the author relates the rich cultural heritage of each monastery featured and provides a detailed architectural portrait. He also contributes an introduction to monasticism and a concise history of the various orders dating from the early Christian era to the present. In addition, the volume includes plans of the sites, a glossary, and a bibliography.

Architects, historians, and art lovers will be captivated by the magnificent collection of photographs in this volume and will find the fascinating text an invaluable account of the artistic glory of European monasteries.

In an insightful text the author describes the cultural heritage of each of the monasteries portrayed and provides an introduction to monasticism and to the various orders dating from the early Christian era to the present. In addition, the volume offers plans of the sites, a glossary, and a bibliography. Historians and collectors of great books of art history will be intrigued by this unsurpassed collection of photographs and fascinating account of the artistic glory of European monasteries. As worldwide interest in spirituality, cultural heritage, and sophisticated tourism continues to increase, Great Monasteries of Europe is sure to be welcomed by readers from a variety of backgrounds.

Since the early Middle Ages, European cultural history has been inextricably linked to the presence of monasteries. In addition to serving as religious refuges, monasteries offered sanctuary for the pursuits of art, education, science, and book production. Because many monasteries are themselves masterpieces of architecture situated in beautiful landscapes, they have lately become leading European tourist destinations. Yet despite their popularity with visitors, no comprehensive, richly illustrated guide to Europe's magnificent monasteries has ever been published — until now.

Architectural historian Bernhard Schütz's Great Monasteries of Europe, which features an authoritative text and over 500 stunning, full-color photographs, is the most lavish and comprehensive examination to date of the architecture and art of European monasteries, from early Carolingian examples in the eighth century to a modem structure by Le Corbusier in 1960.

In his insightful text Schütz provides individual historical and architectural portraits of more than 150 of Europe's most interesting and best preserved monasteries — all accessible to visitors. These fascinating portraits are divided into groups by country or region and arranged geographically therein, so readers can enjoy virtual tours of the monasteries of Portugal and Spain, France, Great Britain, Italy, and the territories of the former Holy Roman Empire: Austria, the Czech Republic, Germany, Poland, and Switzerland. The inclusion of an enlightening introduction to monasticism, a concise history of the various orders dating from the early Christian era to the present, and an appendix with plans of the sites, a glossary, and a bibliography ensures that Great Monasteries of Europe will be the seminal reference on its subject for years to come.

With breathtaking photography by Henri Gaud, Joseph Martin, Florian Monheim, Antonio Quattrone, Ghigo Roli, and Marco Schneiders, Great Monasteries of Europe captures the spiritual and artistic richness of Christianity's most remarkable sanctuaries. The glorious photographs, which document the stately exteriors, tranquil interiors, and skillfully wrought artistic details of each monastery, both complement the text and provide limitless fascination and insight in themselves.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Bernhard Schütz, a renowned scholar of medieval and Baroque architecture, is a professor of architectural history at the University of Munich and the author of Great Cathedrals of Europe. 

ABOUT THE PHOTOGRAPHERS: Henri Gaud, Joseph Martin, Florian Monheim, Antonio Quattrone, Ghigo Roli, and Marco Schneiders are leading photographers of works of art.

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