Around Villefranche de Rouergue / Najac

Culture and sightseeing 

Other Great Tourist Sites in Occitania / Pyrenees-Mediterranean

• Figeac : the birthplace of Jean-François Champollion has a wealth of heritage that is still very much alive.
  www.tourisme-figeac.com

• Rodez : the principal town of Aveyron is full of fine buildings and full of life.  http://tourisme.grand-rodez.com

• Cahors : the wealth of heritage interest that this city has accumulated since Antiquity is matched only by its quality of life.  www.holidays-cahors.co.uk

• Cordes sur Ciel : this hilltop 'bastide' village is a treasure chest of Gothic architecture.  www.cordessurciel.fr

• Albi: the most popular attractions here are the Musée Toulouse-Lautrec and the Cathedral of Sainte Cécile.  www.albi-tourisme.com

• Saint Cirq-Lapopie : officially recognised as one of the most beautiful villages in France, in the stunning Lot Valley. www.holidays-cahors.co.uk

Villages

• Belcastel : a château dominates this adorable village on the River Aveyron, made up entirely of schist houses and steep streets with decorative-pebble paving. www.mairie-belcastel.fr

• Saint Antonin Noble Val : the streets lined with old houses and its vaguely bohemian air are what give this town on the banks of the Aveyron its charm. It is very busy during the summer. http://tourisme-saint-antonin-noble-val.com

• Bruniquel : a medieval village full of finely sculpted façades, rose bushes and lilacs that sits on the cliff top above the Aveyron Gorge. www.bruniquel.fr

Châteaux

• Château de Penne: an eyrie overlooking the Aveyron Gorge. Ruined in the course of its turbulent history, this château now has a new lease of life and hosts various events over the summer. Tel. +33 (0)5 63 55 71 90 - www.chateaudepenne.com

Churches and abbeys

• Abbaye de Loc Dieu : this fortified abbey where the Mona Lisa was hidden during the Second World War stands in magnificent 50-hectare grounds. Tel. +33 (0)5 65 29 51 18 - www.abbayelocdieu.com 

• The church in Varen : this harmonious and serene Romanesque church stands next to the former dean's château. A little-known gem.

• Beaulieu Abbey : this magnificent Cistercian abbey in a bucolic valley is also a centre for modern art. Tel. +33 (0)5 63 24 60 00 – www.art-beaulieu-rouergue.com

Outdoor activities

Walking

• 'Najac, un village perché' : part of this 11km walk (3 hours, moderate difficulty) follows the banks of the Aveyron, giving you a clear idea of the strategic position of Najac, the 'Defender of Rouergue'. Route description (in French) in the walking guide Midi-Pyrénées à pied (ref. RE02 – pub. FFRP).

White water sports

• A little tour of Najac in a canoe : a 2-hour descent that is great fun and popular owing to the many man-made features and facilities along the way. Lots of other canoeing and rafting adventures are to be had in the wooded Aveyron Gorge. Contact: AAGAC outdoor activities centre – Tel. +33 (0)5 65 29 73 94 – www.aagac.com

Site of outstanding natural beauty

• The Aveyron Gorge : this rock and cliff-lined gorge, a well known outdoor sports destination, cuts a wonderfully unspoilt winding course through the countryside. You can explore it by river in a canoe or by road, from Najac to Montricoux via Saint Antonin Noble Val (a stretch of about 50 km).  www.tourisme-aveyron.com

Fairs and festivals

• Estivada, Rodez : a major celebration of the Occitan culture common to France, Spain and Italy. Music, song, literature, theatre and more… In July.

• Les Fêtes Médiévales du Grand Fauconnier, Cordes sur Ciel. Lively and colourful recreations of medieval life including falconry. In July.

• L’été de Vaour : a festival of circus and street arts in the village of Vaour, where humour and comedy are the order of the day. In August.

• Pause Guitare, Albi : a festival of French-language popular songs in the heart of Albi's Cité Épiscopale – In July.