This claims to be the oldest treaty still in force in Europe today. On 13 July every year, representatives from two Pyrenean valleys – one French, one Spanish – join hands at the border and repeat the ancient chant: ‘Pax avant! Pax avant! Pax avant!’ Let there be peace! Last week, I attended the 650th edition.
There’s no need to feel sheepish about asking such a question. This short video contains the answer, but don’t try counting all the thousands of sheep – unless you are struggling to go to sleep!
Book trailer for 'The Pyrenees: A Human History' by Colin Duncan Taylor. Discover how we have been transforming this spectacular landscape for thousands of years, from the days of prehistoric cave paintings to contemporary ski resorts.
Authors often film themselves opening the package containing the first copies of their new book. Few of them do so by a gorgeous lake 2,000 metres up a mountain.
In the high Pyrenees at this time of year, the snow melts, flowers bloom, the grass is lush and green, and farmers bring their cows, horses and sheep to the high pastures for a summer of grazing. Last week, I caught up with some of the early arrivals when I was running in the mountains near Tarascon-sur-Ariege. Enjoy 30km of Pyrenean scenery without breaking into a sweat!
Admire the 80-metre-long mural that commemorates a pointless a bloody battle between two old enemies.
The most astonishing aspect of the Grotte de Mas d’Azil is that you can drive right through it on the D119. Although the road seems out of place, its construction in the 1850s was the first step towards the discovery of the cavern’s archaeological importance.
At 10.17 on 21 September 2001, Toulouse was shaken by an explosion which killed 31 people and left a crater 9 metres deep and 30 metres in diameter. The cause? A fertiliser factory run by AZF.
Memories from three launch events of the book 'Menu from the Midi' in the autumn of 2021: Saint-Antonin-Noble-Val, the Château de Thuriès near Revel, and the author's home at Saint-Sernin-les-Lavaur.
This video provides an audiovisual companion to the book 'Menu from the Midi', published 28 August 2021. Join the author as he explores French gastronomy from the farmer’s field to the dining room table and is structured as a menu carefully compiled to give the reader a balanced diet of gastronomy, history, legend and local colour.
Book trailer for 'Menu from the Midi: A Gastronomic Journey through the South of France' by Colin Duncan Taylor, published 28 August 2021. The book explores French gastronomy from the farmer’s field to the dining room table and is structured as a menu carefully compiled to give the reader a balanced diet of gastronomy, history, legend and local colour.
From a sunflower field below the Château de Montgey where the Cathars massacred 6,000 of Simon de Montfort's crusaders in 1211, author Colin Duncan Taylor explains how the Lauragais inspired him to write a book about a land steeped in history and soaked in blood.
The historic Château de Garrevaques, provided the launchpad for the book 'Lauragais' on 21 October 2018. A perfect venue, particularly as the château, its owners and their ancestors feature in the book.
Although everyone will appreciate these stunning images of south-west France, this ten-minute video is primarily aimed at those who have read the book 'Lauragais: Steeped in History, Soaked in Blood' by Colin Duncan Taylor.
Book trailer for 'Lauragais: Steeped in History, Soaked in Blood' by Colin Duncan Taylor, published 28 October 2018. Let the author take you on a journey through the past and present of an undiscovered corner of south-west France.