Discovering the most beautiful villages of Aubrac
On the borders of Lozère, Aveyron and Cantal, Aubrac is famous for its estival landscapes, beautiful cows and picturesque villages. Here’s a small selection of the most beautiful villages to visit in Aubrac!
Mur-de-Barrez
Classified as one of France’s “most beautiful villages”, Mur-de-Barrez is a small medieval town of 800 inhabitants perched on a volcanic ridge at an altitude of 800 metres. The village lies in the historic Carladez region, which was owned by the Grimaldis of Monaco from 1643 to 1791. In the center of the village stands the famous Tour de Monaco, the former gateway to the fortifications built in the 15th century.
Things to see and do in Mur-de-Barrez: the Grand’Rue wine cellars , the Consular House, the Church of Saint Thomas of Canterbury, the House of History, the Fualdès House and the Sainte Claire Monastery on the slopes of the Canbtal mountains.
Laguiole
On the Aubrac plateau, at an altitude of 1,000 meters, Laguiole is known the world over for its cheeses and knives bearing the bee logo. You can visit the workshops where these legendary knives are made. Don’t miss a visit to the Fort de Laguiole church , high above the village, for a breathtaking view of the lauzes roofs covering the houses with their thick basalt and granite walls.
Things to see and do in Laguiole: the bronze bull, symbol of the Aubrac breed, which has been enthroned on the Place du Foirail since 1947, the fresco by Nicolaï Greschny in the crypt of the Laguiole chapel , the botanical observation trail in the woods (9 km starting from the Laguiole ski resort).
Saint-Chély d’Aubrac
South of the Aubrac plateau, at the crossroads of the Santiago de Compostela pilgrimage route , Saint-Chély d’Aubrac is a charming Aveyron village nestled in the Boralde valley. With its UNESCO World Heritage-listed Pont des Pèlerins (Pilgrims’ Bridge), 15th-century Tour de Bonnefon (Bonnefon Tower), half-timbered houses and washhouses, the village of Saint-Chély is home to many carefully preserved heritage treasures.
Things to see and do in Saint-Chély: the church of Saint-Chély (tiered gallery with balusters, rare in Aveyron, and 14th-century altarpiece, on display in the Louvre), the Moulin de Terral (1312), whose history recounts the life of millers in Aubrac.
Nasbinals
On the Lozère side, on high basalt plateaus, Nasbinals is the capital of the Lozère Aubrac. This former pilgrims’ village is made up of sturdy granite and basalt houses scattered around the church of Sainte-Marie, built in the 11th and 12th centuries. A jewel of Romanesque art in Aubrac, it houses several listed works of art.
Things to see and do in Nasbinals: the Route des Lacs, winding its way through the high Aubrac plateau pastures to Les Salces, the burons, where you can taste aligot, and the basalt organs of the Déroc waterfall.
Discovering the most beautiful villages of Aubrac
On the borders of Lozère, Aveyron and Cantal, Aubrac is famous for its estival landscapes, beautiful cows and picturesque villages. Here’s a small selection of the most beautiful villages to visit in Aubrac!
Mur-de-Barrez
Classified as one of France’s “most beautiful villages”, Mur-de-Barrez is a small medieval town of 800 inhabitants perched on a volcanic ridge at an altitude of 800 metres. The village lies in the historic Carladez region, which was owned by the Grimaldis of Monaco from 1643 to 1791. In the center of the village stands the famous Tour de Monaco, the former gateway to the fortifications built in the 15th century.
- Things to see and do in Mur-de-Barrez: the Grand’Rue wine cellars , the Consular House, the Church of Saint Thomas of Canterbury, the House of History, the Fualdès House and the Sainte Claire Monastery on the slopes of the Canbtal mountains.
Laguiole
On the Aubrac plateau, at an altitude of 1,000 meters, Laguiole is known the world over for its cheeses and knives bearing the bee logo. You can visit the workshops where these legendary knives are made. Don’t miss a visit to the Fort de Laguiole church , high above the village, for a breathtaking view of the lauzes roofs covering the houses with their thick basalt and granite walls.
- Things to see and do in Laguiole: the bronze bull, symbol of the Aubrac breed, which has been enthroned on the Place du Foirail since 1947, the fresco by Nicolaï Greschny in the crypt of the Laguiole chapel , the botanical observation trail in the woods (9 km starting from the Laguiole ski resort).
Saint-Chély d’Aubrac
South of the Aubrac plateau, at the crossroads of the Santiago de Compostela pilgrimage route , Saint-Chély d’Aubrac is a charming Aveyron village nestled in the Boralde valley. With its UNESCO World Heritage-listed Pont des Pèlerins (Pilgrims’ Bridge), 15th-century Tour de Bonnefon (Bonnefon Tower), half-timbered houses and washhouses, the village of Saint-Chély is home to many carefully preserved heritage treasures.
- Things to see and do in Saint-Chély: the church of Saint-Chély (tiered gallery with balusters, rare in Aveyron, and 14th-century altarpiece, on display in the Louvre), the Moulin de Terral (1312), whose history recounts the life of millers in Aubrac.
Nasbinals
On the Lozère side, on high basalt plateaus, Nasbinals is the capital of the Lozère Aubrac. This former pilgrims’ village is made up of sturdy granite and basalt houses scattered around the church of Sainte-Marie, built in the 11th and 12th centuries. A jewel of Romanesque art in Aubrac, it houses several listed works of art.
- Things to see and do in Nasbinals: the Route des Lacs, winding its way through the high Aubrac plateau pastures to Les Salces, the burons, where you can taste aligot, and the basalt organs of the Déroc waterfall.
Saint-Geniez-d’Olt
In the Causses and Aubrac regions, on the banks of the Lot, Saint-Geniez-d’Olt was one of the most important towns in Rouergue in the 17th century , thanks to its flourishing cloth trade. The village has preserved a rich heritage of buildings from this period, including the 14th-century Augustinian cloister and chapel , the Talabot Monument on the Puech del Rey hill (Pic du Roi), and a number of handsome 17th-century townhouses.
- Things to see and do in Saint-Geniez-d’Olt: the historic Barribés and Poujade districts, the Parc des Parédous where you can spot the Marmotte de Saint-Geniez, the town’s emblem, and the fête de l’estive (May).
Also worth reading: An overview of the most beautiful landscapes in Aubrac
photo@Mossot, wikimedia