tourisme-aveyron.com - Comité Départemental du Tourisme de l'Aveyron

On the banks of the river Aveyron, it’s a picture postcard village, one you see in paintings with its bridge, its church, its tomb of the Seigneur of Belcastel and its dominating 15th century château. In this exceptional décor, the architect Fernand Pouillon was amazed by this site and put his passion and his talent into the restoration of the château.

About halfway between Saint Affrique and Réquista, the name of the minuscule village of Brousse-le-Château, evokes both the inextricable vegetation that the first farmers who settled on the site had to discipline, and the fortress that dominates the village, part of which had already been built before 1000AD.

A mecca for culture lovers and one of the “Grands Sites de Midi-Pyrénées”, the village of Conques, major stop on the Chemin de Saint-Jacques-de-Compostelle, holds an exceptional Romanesque heritage. The new stained glass windows in the abbey-church, the work of Pierre Soulages, respect the Romanesque austerity and its symbols and at the same time glorify it.

This picturesque mediaeval village nestles at the foot of the château that dominates it and which, for centuries, insured its defence and its protection. On the Chemin de Saint Jacques de Compostelle, at the heart of the Lot valley, just before Entraygues-sur-Truyère, Estaing benefits from remarkable buildings: château, church, Gothic bridge and Middle Ages village architecture.

Founded in 1280 by the Raymond de Calmont the bishop (Evêque) of Rodez to compete with Villefranche-de-Rouergue, the bastide is built on a granite plateau that overlooks the Gorges de l’Aveyron where numerous martinets (hydraulic forges) beat copper in the Middle Ages.

As soon as you approach La Couvertoirade you are impressed, transported… in space and time: its fortified walls, its narrow streets, its houses of traditional architecture inspired by the surrounding countryside, its church built into the rock that encloses a real treasure, its château, its stone bread oven… La Couvertoirade is without a doubt, one of the plus beaux villages de France…(most beautiful villages in France).

Relive the great adventure of pilgrims en route for Saint Jacques de Compostelle and discover a magical section of the Via Podiensis (GR 65) that crosses the département of the Aveyron.

On this vast plateau situated between the Tarn and Aveyron valleys, EDF have created 5 lakes with a total surface area of 4500 acres. All nautical activities can be enjoyed and anglers will appreciate the two lakes that are reserved for them.
The Monts also offer a multitude of walks at the heart of preserved countryside, during which the life of this area will unfold before you…

Its architectural heritage and its natural environment have enabled this Bastide du Rouergue to be classed amongst the "Plus Beaux Villages de France" (most beautiful villages in France), to boast the title of "Pays d'Art et d'Histoire" and to recently join the "Grands Sites Midi-Pyrénées" with Villefranche de Rouergue.

The rupestrian village of Peyre is remarkable in many ways: tuf stone houses, calades (stone streets) and troglodyte church. This unusual site, sculpted into the rock face, also offers you an exceptional view of Millau viaduct.

The initial centre, a sauveté (or place of exile), was founded in 1030 by the powerful Benedictine abbey Saint-Martial de Limoges on ancient seigniorial grounds of the Ségala.

County town of the département, Rodez constitutes an ideal starting point for discovering the Aveyron. But before you leave to visit further a field, take a stroll around the pedestrianised streets and discover its rich past.

To the south of the Parc Naturel Régional des Grands Causses, you will find the village of Roquefort-sur-Soulzon. It is here and nowhere else that are the caves in which is produced the world famous Roquefort cheese.

Mediaeval village, twisted spire, fortified gateways, beautiful houses…on the route taken by Saint-Jacques de Compostelle pilgrims, this old village has remained unchanged for centuries.

Mediaeval village on the banks of the river Lot and land of ancestral traditions, Sainte-Eulalie d’Olt charms visitors with its houses built of pebbles and their flower bedecked façades.

13th century bastide royale, Sauveterre de Rouergue, built around the largest arcaded square in the Rouergue, is an architectural gem. Timber framed and corbelled houses, ornamental carved stone, finely wrought doors, vestiges of fortifications, moats, towers and entrance gateways invite you to take a trip back in time.

Plunge into history. At the heart of the Grands Causses, on the immense Larzac plateau, discover the Order of these Knights through the 5 villages.

It’s in the deep south of the Aveyron, after the Rougier de Camarès, that you will find Sylvanès. As soon as you arrive in the village, you will be impressed by the imposing Cistercian abbey.

Large plateau situated between the Gorges de la Truyère and the Gorges du Goul, the Carladez is a harmonious and preserved region of wild scenery and traditional architecture with lauze covered roofs. Situated at the entrance to the Auvergne, with a magnificent view of the Monts du Cantal, the Carladez hesitates between Rouergue and Auvergne. All along the Truyère one finds a succession of dams, a real paradise for angler’s and water lovers.

Leaving from Sévérac-le-Château, where one finds the sources of the Aveyron, the river will naturally take you to Rodez, a town which has existed for over two millennia. Situated at the heart of the Aveyron, the prefecture or county town will welcome you to the shade of its cathedral that is reputed to have the most beautiful bell tower in France. Then the river will take you towards Belcastel and architectural gems such as the Rouergue bastides and the numerous châteaux.

On the edge of the Monts d’Aubrac, the Lot valley stretches from Saint-Laurent-d’Olt to Salvagnac. It contains numerous villages of character: Saint-Geniez d’Olt, Sainte-Eulalie d’Olt, Saint-Côme d’Olt, Espalion, Estaing. At Entraygues-sur-Truyère, the Lot widens its riverbed and flows more serenely between Capdenac and Salvagnac.

From the temult of the Gorges du Tarn to the north of Millau, to the Raspes and the Tarn valley flowing more calmly towards Brousse le Château, the river Tarn passes through extraordinary scenery. If your eyes have had their fill, then your body will be able to get some exercise with the multitude of sporting activities adapted to the area around the river.

"Spectaculaire! Amazing! Wunderbar! Impressionnant! Splendide!"
Suspended between sky and earth, with its slender lines and appearance of a sailing boat, Millau viaduct makes you dream and meets with everyone’s approval. A human challenge, technological prowess, dimensions that take your breath away, perfect integration with the surrounding landscape: it strikes the perfect balance!

Bastide classed Grands Sites Midi-Pyrénées with Najac and Ville d'Art et d'Histoire, Villefrance-de-Rouergue invites you to discover its rich architectural heritage, its art de vivre, its inhabitants…

The bastide of Villeneuve was built on a Romanesque sauveté, a defined area of refuge, founded around a Benedictine monastery at the beginning of the 13th century. Villeneuve was successively a sauveté, a bastide comtale (under the control of a count) then bastide royale at the end of the 13th century.

At the heart of the uplands of the Aveyron, discover the Aubrac plateau. This is the place to get a breath of fresh air, on foot, bike, horseback, or snowshoes and skiing in winter. Oxygenation guaranteed!

June 2011 : The Causses and the Cévennes inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List.