Categories: French Departments, Occitanie, Off the Beaten Track in France, Toulouse Area
Discussed in this Episode
- Najac
- Villefranche-de-Rouergue
- Rodez
- Millau
- Millau Viaduct
- Tarn River
- Villefranche du Rouergue
- Rouergue
- Les Grands Causses
- Trou de Bozouls
- Espalion
- Chateau de Calmont d'Olt
- Estaing
- Conques
- Saint Foy
- Peyres
- Roquefort sur Soulzon
- Sainte-Eulalie
- La Couvertoirade
- Sainte-Eulalie-d'Olt
- Musée Fenaille
- Musée Soulages
- Cathedral of Rodez
- Laguiole
- Micropolis
- Gorge du Tarn
- Le Chaos de Montpellier-le-Vieux
- Aubrac
- Aligot
- Tripou
- Gâteau à la broche
- Fouace.
The Aveyron department: The Gem of the southwest
The Aveyron department is situated north by northeast of Toulouse in a part of Occitanie that is made up of rugged terrain, gorgeous valleys and gorges, and many many ancient villages and castles.
Geographically situated at the southern end of the Massif Central, France’s oldest mountain range, it is the 5th largest department in size, and a largely rural department too.
The southern part of the Aveyron is composed of what are called the Great Causses (Limestone Plateaux) which make a spectacular landscape filled with wonderful surprises.
One of the departments with the most MOST BEAUTIFUL VILLAGES OF FRANCE, it is also home to natural wonders, other man made sites, and some of the most ancient abbeys and bridges in France.
The ancient province of Rouergue was named after the important Celtic tribes that were the Rutènes, who lived in the area. They gave their name to Rodez and the people of the area are called the Ruthenes to this day.
AVEYRON – The cities and towns
The capitol of the department is the city of Rodez: in the center of the department, Rodez is a small, dynamic city with approximately 48,ooo people in its metropolitan area. Perched high on a hill, the old city is home to a spectacular red stone cathedral, a small medieval center, and the contemporary Soulages museum. It is a base for travels to the tiny villages and countryside in the northern part of the department
Millau: Southeast of Rodez, it is the Capitol of leather making for centuries, Millau, now famous for the Viaduct that passes over head, is a city of 22,000 in the middle of gorgeous green valleys and spectacular landscapes.
Villefranche de Rouergue: On the western side of the department, Villefranche, once the capitol of the ancient province of Rouergue, is a small (12,000) city with a magnificent ancient city center, and a famous Cistercian monastery.
Saint Affrique: With a little over 8,000 people it is the charming center of the Roquefort area, famous for the blue cheese that is produced nearby
THE VILLAGES:
The Aveyron can boast of having many gorgeous, old stone villages dating from the Middle Ages and the renaissance. With the official label, MOST BEAUTIFUL VILLAGE OF FRANCE, these include some gems of ancient architecture. All are well taken care of because they are the destinations for people on holiday. There are also other small villages with charm in the Aveyron area, just about everywhere.
Najac: Gorgeous, all lined up along one street, leading to an incredible castle (open in season)
Sauveterre de Rouergue: With a central square surrounded by gothic arcades and galleries, it is a small gem
Belcastel: On the river, with houses and castle and bridge
Conques: Famous for its Abbey that is a major stop on the Road to Compostelle, it is still an important pilgrimage destination. The Church of the Abbey is famous for its incredible carved entranceway (tympanum), for the very contemporary stained glass windows, for its cloister and for its relics especially of Saint Foy.The village is a tiny gem hidden in a valley and is very popular to visit
La Couvertoirade: In the southeastern corner of the Aveyron, not far from St Affrique, this village is one of the few vestiges of the Knights Templar and their settlements.
Estaing: Another small gem of medieval architecture, it is also famous for being the home of an ex president of France, Valéry Giscard d’Estaing
Espalion: A more dramatic village with a Roman bridge
Two villages on the Olt River:
St Côme d’Olt
Ste Eulalie d’Olt
La Brousse de Château
OTHER SITES TO VISIT
LAGUIOLE: Not on the list of Most Beautiful Villages, but a beautiful village in the midst of the barren Aubrac causse. It is famous for being the center of knife making for centuries.
The VIADUCT OF MILLAU: A major engineering feat – open since 2004, it is a major engineering and architectural wonder. It is a major connection too between Clermont Ferrand, in the center of the Auvergne area and Beziers close to the coast
The Caves of Roquefort Cheese:
Home to the famous sheep’s cheese made from the sheep that roam the huge plateaux areas, the “Caves” are visitable and of course, off tastings and have shops. The most famous are Papillon and Société, but there are other, smaller producers as well.
MICROPOLIS: The City of Insects: A “museum” of insects with lots of activities for children
NATURAL SITES
The Gorges of the Tarn: spectacular and very popular in the summer: hiking, kayaking and in some places, swimming
The Chaos (a Jumble) of Montpelliert le Vieux – for hiking and enjoying the dramatic landscape
Walking in the Aubrac area: Getting a vista that is enormous and seeing the ancient stone houses that the shepherds used to make their cheese
SOME FOODS OF THE AVEYRON
Roquefort: the famous blue cheese made from sheep’s milk
Aligot: To warm you up in the winter – a delicious mix of melted cheese, potatoes and garlic
Tripoux: Not for everyone – tripes cooked the “aveyron” way
Bread made with real starter: The Aveyron is famous for its delicious, almost sour dought tasting breads
Gateau à la broche: A kind of waffle dough cooked on a spit over a fire – and then sometime added to (yummy) Traditionally made for weddings
La Fouace: A rich brioche made with a little orange flower essence. Great with coffee, tea or as a breakfast
THIS IS RURAL FRANCE AT ITS MOST BEAUTIFUL. Filled with history, with spectacular scenery and many places to visit; whether it is history, architecture, or the great outdoors, you should definitely include the Aveyron in your next visit to France
Paris – Rodez : 410 km – 4h45
Toulouse – Rodez: 150 km -1h45
Albi – Rodez: 70 km – 1h
Montpellier – Rodez; 175 – km 2h15
Subscribe to the Podcast
Apple Google Spotify RSSSupport the Show
Tip Your Guides Extras Patreon Audio ToursRead more about this show-notes
Episode Page TranscriptCategories: French Departments, Occitanie, Off the Beaten Track in France, Toulouse Area