The Great Sites of Midi-Pyrénées in Aveyron

The Aveyron possesses several sites classified “Grands Sites Midi-Pyrénées” that are the ideal places to start discovering the département, its heritage, its culture and its art de vivre. A “Grand Site” is a place that is emblematic, grandiose or intimate, a land of cultural sharing in an exceptional environment! Discover the Aveyron’s Grands Sites:

Conques and its almost one thousand year old abbey church of Sainte-Foy. Situated on the Chemins de Saint-Jacques-de-Compostelle classified as World Heritage by UNESCO for over a decade…

Conques

Villefranche-de-Rouergue, founded in 1252 by Alphonse de Poitiers, Count of Toulouse and brother of King Saint-Louis, town with southern terracotta roman roof tiles, and one of the six Aveyron Bastides.

Market day in Villefranche-de -Rouergue

Najac, overlooking the river Aveyron and its unforgettable gorges, mediaeval village, “Pays d’Art et d’Histoire”, with its Bastide situated in the village.

Najac and its fortress

Sylvanès and its Cistercian abbey classified as a historic monument in 1854, place of religion and host of the international festival of sacred music and world music each summer.

Sylvanès Abbey

The town eponymous with cheese, Roquefort, with its natural caves created by the collapse of the Combalou limestone plateau and that gave birth to the legendary natural maturing cellars.

Roquefort Cellars

Millau viaduct, 21st century technological marvel, a monument in itself, work of art, world record holder for its height of 343 metres, it enabled the A75 motorway (la Méridienne) to become the shortest and cheapest route between Paris, the Mediterranean and Spain.

Millau Viaduct

Not forgetting the Knights Templar Sites, mediaeval works of art, situated in the south Aveyron and composed of 5 sites: La Cavalerie with the vestiges of the church of the Knights Templar, La Couvertoirade demonstrating the Templars’ military power, Saint-Jean d’Alcas, fortified village, Sainte-Eulalie de Cernon, almost intact mediaeval commandry and a living illustration of the agro-pastoral vocation at Viala du Pas de Jaux.

The mediaeval village of La Couvertoirade

Has that wetted your taste buds? Do you want to find out more? Come and visit the Unmissable sites in the Aveyron!