Orgues d'Ille-sur-Têt, Eastern Pyrenees, France

© SFL Choice/Alamy Stock Phot

The art of erosion

Rising out of the otherwise green landscape here in the south of France, these otherworldly sand and clay towers could be a scene from Lord of the Rings – or another planet. Nature has been carving out this incredible landscape here in the Eastern Pyrenees for millions of years – and it hasn’t finished yet. The weather is still whittling away at the Orgues d’Ille-sur-Têt (orgues is French for organs, and they do bear a passing resemblance to church organ pipes) near the city of Perpignan.

Fortunately the south of France is not known for heavy rainfall so these ‘fairy chimneys’ should be around for years to come – but they are fragile so climbing is not allowed. At sunset, when the sun’s rays bring out the colour variations in the ancient rock, they look particularly spectacular.