Parting Potpourri Basil Howitt welcomes the inauguration, at last, of the trans-frontier TGV link between Perpignan and Figueres. He also ties up a few loose ends left dangling from one or two of his earlier…
Rasiguères and rosé – the alliteration is a fortunate coincidence for this village of vignerons. Though the quality of the wine speaks for itself.
God’s largest prison: Albi and its “monstrous mountain of brick” From Rivesaltes station to Albi via Toulouse The first leg of the journey was uneventful, apart from the distant view en route of Carcassonne, bastioned…
Despite it’s beginnings in Christianity, the Feux de la Saint Jean is linked with ancient practices and white magic
‘The Pyrenees which anciently divide the Gauls from the Spains shall henceforth be the division of the two said kingdoms.’ Article 42 of the Treaty of the Pyrenees, signed November 7th 1659 ✥✥✥✥✥✥✥✥✥✥✥✥✥✥✥✥✥✥✥✥✥✥✥✥✥✥✥✥✥✥✥✥✥✥✥✥✥ Regular demonstrations…
Basil Howitt offers another snippet on the sex life of the Sun King, Louis XIV and, at the end of the local truffle season, shares his modest acquaintance with truffled dishes and truffle lore. She…
La Jonquera Eldorado? – or Sodom and Gomorrah? With Basil Howitt « Cette région est devenue la maison close de la France ». (“This region has become France’s brothel.”) Jordi Cabezas, mayor of La Jonquera…
The white-hot, eleven-year love affair between Louis XIV and his second Maîtresse en Titre, Athénaïs, Marquise de Montespan. Among her many nicknames were La Reine Sultane, The Diamond Marquise, The Beautiful Enchantress, The Torrent, and Quanto.
The mediaeval fortified citadel of Carcassonne – known as “La Cité” – is unique in the world. With its complex system of fortifications, it is the largest intact walled town in Europe.
Little yellow train top tips.....from P-O Life forum The scenery is spectacular, but It is not so easy to view the scenery and watch the road so I think I'll try the train next time…
