Venture off the beaten track into the Aveyron gorges, green paradise as well as wild nature. Over the river, wake up your meaning and create your most beautiful memories.
Extending over twenty kilometers straddling the departments of Aveyron and Tarn-et-Garonne, the Aveyron gorges offer you beautiful landscapes to explore. For a day, a weekend or a holiday, recharge your batteries in the heart of this unspoiled nature.
What to do in the Aveyron gorges?
Hike in the Aveyron Gorges
The Gorges de l'Aveyron are a true paradise for hiking enthusiasts. You can explore marked trails and enjoy spectacular scenery.
Bike rides
The region is ideal for cycling and mountain biking. You can rent a bike and ride the small winding roads through the hilly landscapes.
Aquatic activities
The Aveyron river is perfect for water sports such as canoeing. Rent a kayak or canoe and cruise down the river taking in the stunning scenery.
Where to swim in the gorges of Aveyron?
At the bend of a path or a small country road, discover pleasant natural corners at the edge of the water where you can take a dip... In many places, access is free but unsupervised and therefore under your entire responsibility.
Good to know: there are beaches on the banks of the river in Laguépie and at Lac de Parisot. Swimming is supervised there in summer.
Where to go canoeing in the Aveyron gorges?
To appreciate the wild beauty of the gorges, nothing better than canoeing! Let yourself be carried along by the water... Observe the old mills of Villefranche with Sports and Nature or admire the village of Najac and its fortress with the AAGAC.
Climbing
The discovery of its cliffs is also worth the detour. Take to the skies and admire the rock faces and the serpentine river by taking the Corniche tourist route. Overlook the Cirque de Bône and the Roc d'Anglars in Saint-Antonin-Noble-Val, unmissable viewpoints during your stay. Push your way to Bruniquel and Cordes-sur-Ciel, two of the “Most Beautiful Villages of France”.
What to see in the Aveyron gorges
By following the course of the river, discover sites with exceptional heritage. Medieval bastides, perched villages, fortresses… So many sites to explore along the water.
- Belcastel: a magnificent medieval village, it is considered one of the most beautiful villages in France and offers an enchanting interlude along its cobbled streets. Dominated by an XNUMXth century castle restored by the architect Fernand Pouillon, the village is a great place to stroll.
- Villefranche-de-Rouergue: this bastide founded in 1252 by Alphonse de Poitiers will delight history lovers. Admire its Place Notre-Dame overlooked by its impressive bell tower-porch. To visit Villefranche de Rouergue is also to push the door of two remarkable monuments: the monastery of the Chartreuse Saint-Sauveur and the chapel of the Black Penitents.
- Najac: Dominated by its impressive medieval castle, Najac is another unmissable village in the Gorges de l'Aveyron. Admire the castle's architecture, explore the historic center and enjoy panoramic views of the valley from the fortress keep.
- Saint-Antonin-Noble-Val: this picturesque medieval village is located in the heart of the Gorges de l'Aveyron. Stroll through its cobbled streets, stroll under the XNUMXth century Halle and explore the old half-timbered houses.
Try the experience
5 good reasons to come to the gorges of Aveyron
A picturesque landscape
South-west of Villefranche-de-Rouergue, the Aveyron river dug his bed in deep throats. The steep and schistose massifs bring striking tones to the landscape. Contemplate this mosaic of colours, ocher sandstone alongside white limestone and bluish pebbles. Marvel at the high cliffs lined with perched villages, viaducts, waterfalls as well as prehistoric sites.
The vegetation of the Aveyron gorges, in which hemp and flax were once grown, is lush. On the plateaus, oaks and chestnuts take pride of place while conifers replace the vines destroyed by phylloxera at the end of the XNUMXth century.
It is in this rugged setting that the village of Najac stretches like a sentinel along a narrow rocky ridge at the foot of which well-exposed terraced gardens have been laid out. A visit is a must!
