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

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.

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

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

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

Recent articles

Although it scars 11 square kilometres of the Pyrenees, you are only likely to spot the Trimouns quarry if you climb a mountain on the north side of the Ariège valley. This high-altitude site supplies 40% of Europe’s talcum powder, but what do we do with it all? 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
Around 71 BCE, the Roman general Pompey built a monument in the Pyrenees to celebrate 877 victories in south-western Europe. Only a handful of Roman trophies survive, and this is the oldest. READ MORE

Latest video

What is a spear-thrower? It’s not this lady throwing a spear. This video explains how this innovative piece of prehistoric weapons technology helped out ancestors catch their dinner.