Explore the south of France, the Pyrenees and northern Spain

A smiling man wearing sunglasses, a helmet, and a colorful neck gaiter, standing outdoors in front of a metal structure and building, likely at a sporting event or outdoor activity.

About this site

Cover image of the book 'Menu from the Midi' by Colin Duncan Taylor.

Cover image of the book 'Lauragais' by Colin Duncan Taylor.

Based in the south of France for 25 years, I am an author who specialises in history, landscapes and gastronomy on both sides of the Pyrenees.

There are three main ways to explore my website: (i) use the interactive map (ii) browse the list of selected articles (iii) choose a topic.

Clickable map of locations covered in articles by Colin Duncan Taylor.

Recent articles

Four kilometres north of Biescas in the Spanish Pyrenees, Santa Elena is home to two disappearing dolmens, a Celtic calendar, a 16th-century fort and some of the extraordinary Pyrenean defences built by Franco at the end of the Second World War. READ MORE
There are dozens of Devil’s Bridges in Europe, and ten of them are located in or around the Pyrenees. The most curious origin story I have come across blends fact with fiction, and throws in a large helping of deception or perhaps misunderstanding. READ MORE
Opened in 1928, the main station building was grandiose in both its style and dimensions. In 1970, a runaway train destroyed a bridge on the French side of the mountains and Canfranc fell into ruin until it was bought by the regional government. It reopened as a 5-star hotel in 2023 and its facilities now include a Michelin-starred restaurant housed in a pair of refurbished railway carriages. READ MORE

Latest video

Four stained glass windows inside the church of Notre-Dame de la Victoire du Sabart tell the story of a battle between Charlemagne and the Moors at Tarascon-sur-Ariège in 778 CE.