AVEYRON

'Aveyron' (Occitan: ''Avairon'') is a department in southern France named after the Aveyron River.

Contents

History

Geography

Demographics

Tourism

See also

External links

History

Aveyron is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790.
The first known historical inhabitants of the region were the Rutenii tribe, but the area was inhabited previously to this, boasting many prehistoric ruins.

Geography

The department is part of the current Midi-Pyrénées region. It is surrounded by the ''départements'' of Tarn, Tarn-et-Garonne, Lot, Hérault, Gard, Lozère, and Cantal.
The highest point in the department is the summit of Mailhebuau at 1469 m.

Demographics

The inhabitants of the department are called ''Aveyronnais'', inhabitants of Rodez are called ''Ruthénois'', based on the first Roman settlers, the ''rutenii''.

Tourism

Aveyron contains a part of the Cévennes National Park. Two well known tourist attractions are the castle of Najac, a medieval ruin perched high on a hill, and the abbey of Loc-Dieu, located near Martiel in a region with many dolmens. The small city of Millau is the site of the world's tallest bridge, the Millau viaduct, opened by President Chirac in December 2004.
Activities include horseriding, fishing, swimming in the ''Lacs du Lévézou'' and hiking/camping. The inhabitants are also very good craftsmen, and Aveyron is full of various craft objects, handmade, that can be found locally. Examples include the ''couteau de Laguiole'', the world famous ''Roquefort'' cheese, from the village of the same name and other local produce. Markets take place every Saturday on market places around the region.

See also

★ Cantons of the Aveyron department

★ Communes of the Aveyron department

★ Arrondissements of the Aveyron department

External links

★ Prefecture website

★ General council of Aveyron's website

★ Aveyron's bulletin board

★ Aveyron Tourism Guide

★ Tourism Details

★ The Segala Region

★ Information for Tourists

★ The "Templar" Village of LA COUVERTOIRADE