THE OLDEST AND BEST-PRESERVED FORTRESS IN SPAIN / Loarre was built by Christian kings in the 11th century as a secure base from which to launch their attacks on the Moors. In 2005, it provided a backdrop for Ridley Scott’s movie ‘Kingdom of Heaven’.

OPPIDUM D’ENSÉRUNE – A STORY OF DISCOVERY WITH AN EQUINE TWIST / The Oppidum d’Ensérune near Béziers is the best example in the south of France of a fortified Celtic settlement. A lawyer called Félix Mouret rode up here in 1895 and wondered why the ground beneath his horse’s hooves sounded hollow.

AN EVENTFUL PYRENEAN DAY / In the morning, a beautiful view of the Pyrenees cloaked in snow. In the evening, my book, ‘The Pyrenees: A Human History’, becomes available for pre-order, even though the definitive text was only sent off for typesetting the previous day. If you are curious about how a book goes from an idea to a finished product, this post reveals all.

ROCK ART IN THE SPANISH PYRENEES / The Sierra de Guara is the best place to discover prehistoric cave art in the Spanish Pyrenees. It also offers some of the best canyoning, rock climbing, hiking and trail running.

THE EXTRAORDINARY FIELD SYSTEM OF MONTADY / The spoked-wheel fields of Montady are the result of a 13th-century project to transform a disease-ridden swamp into productive farmland: 400 hectares divided into 80 slices by 120 kilometres of drainage ditches.

REVIEW OF ‘LOOTED! THE NAZI ART PLUNDER OF JEWISH FAMILIES IN FRANCE’ BY PETER ELLIOTT / ‘Looted!’ traces the rags-to-riches story of four French Jewish families and recounts the development of their interest in art collecting. It then explores how they fared during the Occupation, and how some of their artworks were looted by the Nazis while others were successfully hidden.

Marianne was not a real person. Like Eleanor Rigby or Maggie May, she was dreamt up for a song. Today in France, you will find her image on coins, postage stamps and government documents, and her bust is in most official buildings. 

In 1910, Armand Viguier built a pedal-powered aeroplane in his village church. When war broke out in 1914, he served successively as cavalryman, bomber pilot and fighter pilot. Learn more about his extraordinary career.

At 10.17 on 21 September 2001, Toulouse was shaken by an explosion which killed 31 people. The cause? A fertiliser factory run by AZF.

During the Hundred Years’ War, English and French armies clashed frequently on the battlefield. At the Battle of Montégut-Lauragais in 1381, a French count confronted a French duke.

Discover how ice cream helped a young Italian establish a cafe in 1686 that was frequented by Voltaire, Rousseau, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Danton and Robespierre.

Please be indulgent and allow me to share a wonderful piece of publishing news! It's another good reason for me to love the Pyrenees.

​In a forest clearing halfway up a mountain, five granite figures stare into the distance and dream of freedom. Who carved them, and what do they represent?

With a poet’s eye for drama, Henry Bataille knew exactly how he wanted to be buried. Although his dramatic output has passed into oblivion, his tomb is unforgettable. It may even give you nightmares.

At the foot of the Montagne Noire, the village of Durfort devoted itself to copper for six centuries. Today, one or two shops still offer traditional wares, a copper vessel hangs outside nearly every house, and the village council has recently signposted a 3.5km walk along the river where trip hammers once thumped lumps of copper into shape.