Came across an extensive article about the Averyron in deepest Midi-Pyrenees. The Photos in the article are quite splendid! Wikipedia introduces Aveyron as follows: 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 Le Signal de Mailhebiau at 1469 m (Plateau of Aubrac). Lac de Villefranche-de-Panat is used as a reservoir to provide drinking water supplies for the region.

It surprised me to discover The Midi-Pyrénées is the largest region in mainland France and is larger than the Netherlands. The Aveyron tucked away in the South-West of the Massif Central is the area which I visited. Extensively wooded, the deep valleys providing lines of communication between the many towns and villages.

The landscape is dominated by the deep clefts gouged out by ancient glaciers and powerful rivers. The many picturesque towns are either nestled in these valleys or sit high on the surrounding hills replete with castles and impressive Romanesque churches.

There is a great deal of history throughout the region, it is culturally very diverse and the cuisine is equally as varied.

The majority of my own trip involved a variety of outdoor pursuits which was great fun but meant there  was not always time available to properly explore this fascinating destination. This is a region rich in history, much of it dating back to the ‘One hundred years war’ between England and France and also the religious wars involving the Protestant uprisings against the Catholic king.

Article continues with visits to

• St Antonin Noble Val
• Bruniquel
• Najac
• Peyre

There were plenty of other noteworthy small towns passed through on this trip, Ste Eulalie de Cernon with its Vélorail of the Larzac, Creissels and Saint Affrique are just a few worth going out of the way to see.

To read the complete article and admire the photos: Cultural Aveyron; Enchanting Villages and Mystical Castles