Red soils, lake plateaus and medieval townscapes give Aveyron its varied character. To choose your destination, start with a key question: should your trip focus mainly on scenery and outdoor activities, water-based pursuits, or architecture and art? The region’s highlights range from the Aubrac and Lévézou to the Rougier de Camarès. Decide which themes you want to shape your stay, then look for a hotel based on the location of the specific activities and places you have chosen to visit. Check the accommodation’s location against your own plans.

Landscapes and activities: Aubrac, Rougier and Lévézou

The Aubrac Plateau, north of Aveyron, is considered a 2,500 km² area of forests and pastures. In the Aveyron part of Aubrac, activities include hiking, cycling, horseback riding and winter skiing. The expansive landscape offers several ways to enjoy the outdoors; skiing is specifically a winter activity. Check the seasonal conditions for each activity before your trip.

The Rougier de Camarès is a geological landscape characterized by red soil and sculpted landforms. Possible activities there include walking, mountain biking and horseback riding. Comparing it with Aubrac can help you decide what to focus on: in the Rougier, red soils and sculpted landforms shape the scenery, while Aubrac’s range of activities also includes winter skiing.

The Lévézou Plateau is home to five artificial lakes: Bages, Pont-de-Salars, La Gourde, Pareloup and Villefranche-de-Panat. The region offers swimming, fishing and other water activities, as well as hiking and mountain biking. At Lac de Pareloup, you can also go sailing, jet skiing, rowing, kitesurfing and predator fishing. Check local access and safety conditions before taking part in water activities. The activities available at Lac de Pareloup may also vary.

Discover villages, architecture and culture

The eleven officially classified villages in Aveyron showcase a range of architectural styles, including bastides, Templar sites, churches and castles. In western Aveyron, six bastides are distinguished by their right-angled streets and central squares with arcades. Their street layouts and square designs offer a tangible glimpse of local architecture. For a broader regional overview, follow the Aveyron Valley from Sévérac-le-Château to Rodez; it encompasses river landscapes, heritage sites, natural attractions and family activities.

In Rodez, the Musée Soulages houses the world’s largest collection of Pierre Soulages’s works. Future donations may expand the collection. Château de Belcastel is home to several art galleries featuring rare works by American illustrators. Since exhibitions can change, check the current program before your visit.

Château de Calmont-d’Olt offers a medieval experience: children can become knights, and visitors can operate medieval war machines. Check current visiting options and the program before your trip. Château de Peyrelade offers panoramic views over the Gorges du Tarn. Five Templar and Hospitaller sites on the Larzac and its foothills bear witness to a religious and military past.

Micropolis in Saint-Léons offers a family-oriented experience focused on insects. Exhibitions and programs may change; check the current offering in advance.

Plan your journey and hotel search

For Rougier Aveyron Sud, the A75 (E11), via exits 45, 46 and 47, is listed as an access route. Bus route 720 serves the area on the route between Albi and Millau. Road conditions and timetables can change; check the details before travelling.

Then compare the locations of the hotels you are considering with the places and activities you actually plan to visit. This lets you choose accommodation to suit your own itinerary, rather than treating an entire area as a single location.

A culinary connection to Aubrac

Laguiole is a cow’s milk cheese made in the Aubrac region. It adds a regional culinary dimension to the area’s landscapes and cultural experiences. If you’re planning your stay around Aubrac, you can consider this cheese as part of the region’s identity; regulations governing the production rules in its protected designation of origin specification may be updated.

Discover more destinations: Compolibat, Conques, Millau, Mur-De-Barrez, Saint-Geniez-D'olt, Saint-Maurice-De-Sorgues, Saint-Rome-De-Tarn, Severac-Le-Chateau, Villefranche-De-Rouergue, Salvagnac-Cajarc, Saujac, Salles-Curan, Najac, Rignac, Saint-Sernin-Sur-Rance, Saint-Léons, Rodez, Rieupeyroux, Pont-De-Salars, Moyrazès, Mostuéjouls, Lʼhospitalet-Du-Larzac, Laguiole, Lagarrigue, Jaux, Estaing, Entraygues-Sur-Truyère, Decazeville, Compeyre, Castries, Capdenac-Gare, Brusque, Baraque De Fraysse, Saint-Beauzély, Saint-Amans-Des-Cots, Escandolières, Valady, Onet-Le-Château, Boussac, Sainte-Juliette-Sur-Viaur, Lavernhe, Montézic, Tayrac, Centrès, Saint-Chély-D’aubrac, Les Angles, Rivière-Sur-Tarn, La Salvetat-Peyralès, Villeneuve, Montlaur, Espalion, Réquista, Flagnac, Saint-Affrique, Sainte-Radegonde, Le Fel, Montagnol, Montrozier, Cransac, La Cavalerie, Muret-Le-Château, Versols-Et-Lapeyre, Lacalm, Camarès, Le Nayrac, Tauriac-De-Naucelle, Sainte-Eulalie-De-Cernon, Foissac, Lestrade-Et-Thouels, Villefranche-De-Panat, Cassagnes-Bégonhès, Bozouls, Comps-La-Grand-Ville, Belmont-Sur-Rance, Fondamente, Brandonnet, Viviez, Campagnac, Almont-Les-Junies, Saint-Georges-De-Luzençon, Naucelle, Peyreleau, Saint-Cyprien-Sur-Dourdou, Saint-Laurent-D'olt, Sébazac-Concourès, Saint-Jean-D'alcapiès, Laissac, Castelnau-De-Mandailles, Palmas, La Fouillade, Ambeyrac, Salles-Courbatiès, Florentin-La-Capelle, La Bastide-Solages, Sauveterre-De-Rouergue, Grand-Vabre, La Cresse, Trémouilles, Nant, Lugan, Le Vibal, Naussac, Sainte-Croix, Saint-André-De-Najac, Sébrazac, Firmi, Tournemire, Creissels, Olemps, Saint-Félix-De-Sorgues, Marcillac-Vallon, Privezac, Calmels-Et-Le-Viala, Agen-D'aveyron, Aubin, Verrières, Roquefort-Sur-Soulzon, Pradinas, Lunac, La Selve, Anglars-Saint-Félix, Cantoin, Graissac, Castelmary, Villecomtal, Taussac, Saint-Salvadou, La Couvertoirade, Curières, Nauviale, La Capelle-Balaguier, Vézins-De-Lévézou, Prévinquières, Sainte-Eulalie-D'olt, Coupiac, Le Truel, Saint-Rome-De-Cernon, Sénergues, Gaillac-d'Aveyron, Castanet, Auriac-Lagast, Bournazel, Buzeins, Golinhac, Cornus, La Bastide-l'Évêque, Lacroix-Barrez, Prades-d'Aubrac, Causse-et-Diège, Gabriac, Castelnau-Pégayrols, Sanvensa, Goutrens, Salles-la-Source, Connac, Crespin, Brousse-le-Château, Brasc, Martiel, Lassouts, La Roque-Sainte-Marguerite, Saint-Jean-et-Saint-Paul, Viala-du-Tarn, Saint-Félix-de-Lunel, La Loubière, Vaureilles, Saint-Jean-du-Bruel, Lapanouse-de-Cernon, Pierrefiche, Veyreau, Quins, Coubisou, Colombiès, Comprégnac, Saint-Laurent-de-Lévézou, Brommat, La Capelle-Bleys, Montclar, Noailhac, Cabanès, Saint-Izaire.

For the broader travel overview: Midi Pyrenees.