The Area
On Your Door
Parisot
This charming medieval village is a 5-minute walk & can meet many of your immediate needs. From the friendly "L'Auberge de La Castille" restaurant offering good meals at very reasonable prices - to many basic day-to-day requirements - a post office, newsagents, pharmacy & 2 bread shops.
Parisot Lake (Lac de Parisot) is 5 minutes by car and is a great place for boating, fishing or games. It is in a beautiful setting and has boat rental and a snack bar. There are sheltered areas for smaller children to play as well as tennis & basketball courts.
Office de Tourisme Le Bourg, 82160 PARISOT
Telephone: +33.05.63.65.78.20 Email: office.parisot@wanadoo.fr
Caylus
A mere 10 minutes by car, the ancient town of Caylus has plenty to offer. A wonderful old town, it perches on a hillock in the valley, surrounded by steep wooded slopes of the limestone plateau.
Huddled stone houses form narrow, medieval, cobbled alleyways and at their centre lies the old market place that still buzzes twice a week with the trading of local produce. It offers a wide choice of restaurants, bars & shops (including a supermarket).
Office de Tourisme, Rue Droite 82160 CAYLUS
Phone: +33.05.63.67.00.28 Email: ot.caylus@wanadoo.fr Website: www.caylus.com
Villefranche de Rouerge
A 20-minute drive east - Villefranche is a beautifully-preserved bastide town founded in 1252. The oldest part of the town is a small network of streets set on the banks of the river Aveyron and dominated by the 14th century church of Notre Dame - with the great tower accessible for panoramic views. In front of the church is a beautiful arcaded market place which is home to a thriving market every Thursday morning.
www.villefranche.com / www.tourisme.fr
The Aveyron Region
Aveyron is located in the south west of the Massif Central and offers spectacular landscapes. Its plateaux are surrounded by beautiful rivers - the Lot, Tarn, Aveyron and Aubrac which flow through magnificent deep gorges making it ideal for canoeists, walkers and naturalists alike.
With nine sites from a total of 141 nationally that carry the title "Most Beautiful French Villages", Aveyron heads the national honours list.
The Aveyron river is 250 km long, flowing west through the towns of Rodez and Villefranche de Rouergue into the Tarn River north-west of Montauban.
Its twisting gorges are a timeless journey of ancient villages amongst rolling hills and vineyards - however, the tranquillity of the region nowadays masks a more turbulent past - dotted with hill-top bastides, built during the Hundred Years War.
The area is steeped in history. The Cathars, the French and even the English have all ruled here, not to mention the Romans. Going even further back are the world-famous ancient cave paintings at Pech Merle.
www.lafrance.co.uk
Climate
The climate in this region is wonderful during the summer - plenty of sun with temperatures in the late 20's & early 30's - ideal for a break in the country, be it for the active outdoor life, the wealth of sightseeing, or lying by the pool.
Out & About
Beautiful Villages: Several of the most picturesque villages in France are less than an hour's drive. Najac, Conques, Belcastel, St Cirq de Poupe & Cordes sur Ciel are all exceptional.
Historic Towns: Villefranche, Cahors, Montauban, Figeac & Albi are all local towns with wonderful history, museums, buildings and open markets - with excellent sightseeing, shopping and restaurants (more detail at the end of this section).
Market Days
There are 64 markets throughout the Aveyron on various days during the week. For a comprehensive list and the days they are open:
www.francemag.com
Summer Fetes
The summer brings a host of music and local fetes. Everything from a world class jazz festival in Montauban to a great summer classical concert season in Cordes.
There are numerous local fetes during the summer as well as the many "Vide Greniers" (car boot sales) and "Brocants" (flea markets) that are held throughout the area.
Outdoor Activities
There is a wealth of historical sites, natural parks and outdoor activities to suit everyone. There are tourist information offices in most of the towns and villages with plenty of helpful information.
Walking
Aveyron has a network of footpaths of breathtaking routes taking in the unpolluted air and peace of the area. There is a wealth of stunning scenery, wild life & history just waiting to be dicovered. Most towns have excellent tourist information offices where maps and details of local footpaths can be found.
Biking
There is an endless choice of cycle trails in the Aveyron with graddes suited to all levels. Bike hire is available in St Antonin Noble Val at: NATURE ESCAPADE tel : +33.05.63.31.41.76 ou +33.05.63.31.41.87.
Further trail details: www.tourisme-aveyron.com
Golf
How about golf on the splendid Championship course at Albi Bordered by the Tarn river & Sainte-Cécile cathedral looking down on it, the "Albi Lasbordes" golf course provides a great day out. Further details: www.golfalbi.com Or the "Golf Du Grand Rodez" - wonderful panoramic views of the surrounding countryside around Rodez, this course will enable beginners and experienced golfers alike to enjoy the excellent fairways and greens.
Canoeing / Rafting
The Aveyron, with its wealth of rivers and lakes offers great opportunities for canoeing, kayaking and white water rafting. Most towns and villages on the rivers offer some water sports and the tourist information offices are pleased to help.
www.tourisme-aveyron.com
Fishing
There is wonderful fishing throughout the area, with details available locally. If you fancy a lake, there is a very large one at the Lac du Bannac halfway between Limogne and Villefranche-de-Rouergue.
Hang Gliding, Paragliding, horse riding and rock climbing can also be enjoyed in the Aveyron.
Major Towns & Villages
Toulouse
The bustling international city of Toulouse sits astride the River Garonne. This university city is well worth a visit. With its beautiful historic centre, aerospace museum, art galleries, noted architecture, opera house and historic churches - it is one of the most vibrant and metropolitan provincial cities in France. The great square of "Place du Capitol" is a fantastic setting to enjoy one of its many cafes & restaurants & just watch life go by.
www.timeout.com
Rodez
Rodez is built high above the river Aveyron and is dominated by the massive red sandstone "Cathedrale Notre Dame" begun in 1277 - one of the first Gothic buildings in Southern France.The two main town squares "Place de la Cite" and "Place du Bourg" are linked by a network of well-restored medieval streets.
www.ot-rodez.fr
Najac
This is unmissable - standing on a rocky outcrop high above the river is the royal fortress - this impregnable position once defended the region's rich silver and copper mines. This stunning ancient village is based around a long single street tailing back from the hill to the valley - and boasts not just a fairy tale castle but two Michelin-recommended restaurants.
www.regionsdefrance.com
Roquefort
Roquefort is best-known for its classic blue cheese - produced entirely from the milk of the ewes that feed on the vast Aveyron plateaux. The cheese is ripened in the natural damp, aired caves found under the village of Roquefort-sur-Soulzon.
www.roquefort.fr
Millau
Since medieval times Millau has been a major manufacturer of leather goods and especially gloves - today one of the most famous names of Haute Couture. The Millau Viaduct opened in 2004 - designed by Sogelerg-Foster, a unique piece of engineering reaching 343 metres high and a length of 2.5 kilometres across the Tarn river. This has made Millau a crossroad between Northern Europe, Spain and the Euro-Mediterranean.
www.ot-millau.fr