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This post is contributed by Marie, founder of Miles of Happiness. She’s French, so the details below are the words of a local!
France is not only about the Côte d’Azur and Paris. This immense country has many hidden treasures, and the Aveyron is one of them. It’s located in the northeast of the Midi-Pyrenees region of southern France.
Here are nine good reasons to go visit this super charming part of France.
1. The Villages
A road trip in the Aveyron is a great way to discover the region, going from one village to another. You’ll cross medieval villages surrounded by mountains and forests, gorgeous little churches, narrow streets, and timber framed buildings. Some of the historic buildings belong to the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
2. The Food
The French like to eat, but the people from Aveyron are crazy about food! The Aveyron is a culinary paradise. The land is rich in (delicious) local produce, from wine to cheese, meat to pastries. They have lots of ‘must-try’ specialities, but the best is the aligot, based on potatoes and tome fraîche and estofinado. Real delight.
3. The Outdoors
From the plateaux of the Aubrac stretch beyond the horizon to the rocky chaos of the Causse du Larzac, from the sumptuous Gorges du Tarn to the superb Lot Valley, nature is full of character in Aveyron. It’s an amazing playground for a multitude of outdoor activities: hiking, mountain biking, kayaking, rafting, skiing, aquatic walks, paragliding, rock climbing, biking, and more.
4. The Atmosphere
The Aveyron is a much less touristy area to travel than other parts of France, which means it seems as if it’s your own discovery. You won’t cross many foreign tourists, it’s the “France profonde,” which means the real French from the countryside. Incomparable with the Côte d’Azur or those flashy shining parts of France. It’s authentic. There’s nothing fake in Aveyron.
5. The “Wildlife”
The Aveyron is made of pastures and forests, with big and pretty inhabitants. It’s probably the prettiest cows ever: the Aubracs. Tan in color, with long lyre-type horns, Aubracs are a tough breed with high resistance to disease, high longevity and easy calving. You can recognize them with their eyes, it looks like they’ve put some makeup on! Primarily a beef breed, the milk from these cows is also used to make traditional Laguiole cheese. People from the Aveyron are very proud of their Aubracs.
6. The Festivities
In Aveyron, people will always find excuses to party. Festival, exhibitions, fair, shows… One unmissable event is the Transhumance. It’s a traditional practice at the start of spring, where cattle are led from the bottom of the mountain to the top, on the summer pastures. They are adorned with flowers, plumes, ribbons, etc. It’s one of the most touristic events of the region. The parade is spectacular to watch.
7. The Savoir-faire
Knife-makers, luxury glove makers, leather workers and tanners, and the clothing industry are some of the main activities in the Aveyron based on long traditions and diversified savoir-faire. People like to work traditionally, with their hands. The artisanat* is well-developped in Aveyron. You can find real treasures there!
*Crafts in French
8. The Markets
Where flavours and smells mix… Enjoy the authentic markets, fill your picnic hamper with fresh and varied local produce and relish the taste of the Aveyron. You’ll find delicious sheep, cow, and goat’s milk cheeses – don’t miss the Roquefort. The traditional fouace is a must as well, and the farçous, the estofinado… In addition to the food, you can also unearth beautiful local crafts.
9. The Millau Viaduc
– Photo Credit CEVM / Foster & Parners / D. Jamme –
Suspended between sky and earth, with its slender lines and appearance of a sailing boat, Millau Viaduc meets with everyone’s approval. It’s the tallest bridge in the world, with piers rising higher than the Eiffel Tower. It’s absolutely spectacular. Its symmetry, gentle curve, and pure white color give the bridge an almost dreamlike quality. Crossing Millau Viaduc is truly a unique experience.
Originally from Provence (France), Marie lived in Belgium, New Zealand, then Indonesia, to settle down in Hong Kong in 2014. Curious of everything, she has an unquenchable thirst for discovery and sharing. She spends as much time as possible traveling throughout Asia, discovering new pieces of paradise all year long.
Follow the adventures of Miles of Happiness on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram. You can also watch her videos on Vimeo and get inspired on her Pinterest.
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The food and villages would be enough to get me there! There seems to be a lot to see and discover! I had no idea. It looks like a truly wonderful place to visit. I don’t travel much so these posts are amazing! France is absolutely beautiful so it’s on my list to one day get to hopefully!
I hope you’ll get the chance to visit this part of France! And indeed: the food is amazing. I could spend all day just eating there. It’s dangerous… ;)
I got excited about this post right away seeing that it comes from a local! Its so nice while traveling to have advice from locals, as you often get the best tips and tricks. I would love to check out the markets- visiting local markets is one of my favorite things to do while traveling because it gives you such an authentic taste of the cities and countries. The Millau Viaduc is stunning! Definitely adding this to my bucket list- the only place I’ve been in France is Paris (standard, I know!)
All of the outdoor activities would be right up my alley! (And the food, and the culture, and the festivities…ok, I want to do it all!) I have never been to France, but after reading your article, I definitely need to make it a point to get there. I can’t even imagine what it must be like to see that bridge in person. The picture makes it looks so phenomenal!
This looks like an amazing place to visit! That bridge is absolutely breathtaking – I can’t imagine going on a bridge taller than the Eiffel Tower! Beautiful photos, thanks for sharing!
I love the photos it looks like it is my type of place. I would definitely visit here. However, it will probably be once the kids are adults when I am able to travel outside of the country.
I would love to go to Aveyron one day. The photos drew me in and the post kept me reading. That bridge is something to behold for sure.
I’m trying to see what I can find out about that wall, it looks like stone they use in England for their fences. It’s so pretty.
I’ve only been to France once in a very quick trip to Paris…which I didn’t like at all. :( From what I’ve read and heard from other travelers, it’s best to get outside of Paris to see the “real” France before completely condemning the country–and I’m going to do just that later this year! We’re planning on heading to the north and then the east of France on a European road trip–I’m pinning this in the hopes we can take a detour here from Lyon! :)
If you have the time to go, Laguiole is a great place to stay. They have everything: the food, the atmosphere, the traditions… you’ll love it! Enjoy your trip in France !!
I have to admit – those cows are actually pretty! France is one of those places on my never-ending “to go” list, though i know so little about the country, beyond Paris. I loved reading this little guide – it seems like Aveyron is somewhere I’d love to visit!
This is definitely a side of France that most people don’t even see. I absolutely love France, it seems so diverse and such an adventure. Wow the cow looks beautiful as well, I just love seeing the green grass and blue sky. Something about it is just so calming and beautiful to see nature as it truly is. I never thought that France had someone like this.
Everything sounds so amazing about as euros, France! I hope one day I can venture out to France. I would be most excited about the food and the markets! :)
Thanks everyone! France is beautiful indeed, there are so many things to see/do/EAT ;) Thanks for your comments, I actually miss my home country now! Don’t hesitate if you have any questions about Aveyron. I’ll be happy to help. Merci!
I must admit, although I took French in HS, France has never been high on my must-see travel list. But when I see posts like yours it makes me reconsider my list and daydream of wine tasting away in the French countryside.
The bridge looks amazing. What’s it like looking down without the fog?
Well, you don’t need to convince me! I’m sold! Just as there’s much more to the Czech Republic than Prague, France has a similar issue with all of the tourists flooding one or two areas and the rest relatively locals-zones. I have to admit my lack of French knowledge keeps me away from these areas a little bit but hopefully the locals out there are nice :)
These photos are so crisp and pretty, and who doesn’t love some French wine and cheese?
I would love to visit a place like this that offers a lot of delicious food adventures. BTW, I am in love with the photo of the cow..he’s so cute. Ha! it does look like they have makeup on. Wow…the Millau Viaduc looks seriously unreal yet very very cool.
Ok, you have me hooked. I want to go here now! Gorgeous pictures…what a great guest post!!!
This is a great post! I didn’t know anything about this region before reading. It sounds a little like Dordogne, which I visited for a week last year and loved. Good food, markets, cute villages, gorgeous nature… I want to plan a roadtrip through France this spring – any suggestions for specific villages/attractions to see in the area? Merci for the inspiration!
Well, you certainly have me sold! Gorgeous.
Great photo of that cow! I love it!
This is a beautiful tribute to Aveyron, with some great reasons for coming here. I am an American who has lived near Rodez and blogged about Aveyron since 2005 — the blog is, not surprisingly, called La France Profonde. You make excellent points, and I love the inclusion of the animal world.
Whenever I have had American friends and family come here, they have always declared it their favorite place in France, and they have definitely not wanted to leave!
The only thing missing in my opinion, which might make a great 10th reason to come, is the new and very impressive Musée Soulages (http://musee-soulages.grand-rodez.com/museum-soulages/), although it doesn’t really fit in with the “middle of nowhere” idea.
Thanks so much for your thoughts Betty! I will check out your blog, as well as the Musée Soulages. Thanks for stopping by!
Ahhh…makes me homesick for England – the countryside is so familiar there! Lovely to get a local to guest post for greater insight than a tourist!
@Sara : Laguiole is a great place to stay! It’s a lovely town with amaaazing food/scenery/architecture, right in the middle of the region. :)
@Betty : Thank you! I’ve never been to this museum and it goes straight on my list. Next time I go in the Aveyron, I’ll check it out.