The "most beautiful villages in France"

The most beautiful villages within 1–1.5 hours of the house

Aveyron is home to 11 of the "Most Beautiful Villages of France." Here are the closest ones within a 75-km radius. These villages offer a journey through time, featuring medieval architecture, a picturesque atmosphere, and remarkable panoramas. These villages are vibrant getaways: artisans, restaurants, galleries, marked trails, concerts, farmers' markets... they will satisfy your desire for culture, beauty, and a return to your roots.

· Sauveterre-de-Rouergue , royal fortified town with its large royal square (20 km)

Nestled in the green landscapes of Ségala, its large central arcaded square, lined with half-timbered houses and medieval facades, creates a charming setting. Walking through its checkerboard streets, you will discover the Saint-Christophe gate , the corbelled houses and the Saint-Christophe collegiate church with its Gothic altarpiece.
A place of life as much as of heritage, Sauveterre is also a village of craftsmen: cutlers, ceramists, bookbinders… welcome you to their workshops. The contemporary art trail , the designer markets, and the local festivals (Festival of Light, Chestnut Festival) make Sauveterre a destination as creative as it is authentic, just a few kilometers from your home.

· Brousse‑le‑Château , located on the Tarn, wonderful for a photo break by the water (37 km)

Perched at the confluence of the Tarn and Alrance rivers, this 9th-century medieval village boasts a picturesque, bucolic setting. Between narrow streets, old houses, and staircases, a storybook atmosphere reigns, with the water murmuring below. A popular place for a stroll, loved by photography and history lovers.

· Belcastel , perched on the Aveyron with its medieval castle and cobbled streets (47 km)

Nestled in a bend in the Aveyron River, Belcastel rises in stone terraces to its 11th-century medieval castle, restored in the 1970s. It features an old 15th-century Gothic bridge, a mill, a Romanesque church rich in listed statues, and a Maison de la Forge evoking the trades of yesteryear. Belcastel offers a peaceful stroll along the river, flower-filled cobbled streets, and contemporary art exhibitions at the castle.

· Najac , impressive fortress on a ridge overlooking the gorges (53 km)

Nestled on a ridge, Najac deploys itsAn imposing 12th-century fortress and its fortified town with steep streets. Its panoramic view of the surrounding valleys is breathtaking. The village retains an authentic medieval atmosphere with its castle, churches, and highlighted slate roofs. Ideal for a historical immersion atop a rocky spur.

· Villefranche-de-Rouergue , royal fortified town nicknamed the "pearl of Rouergue" (66 km)

Its main square, Notre-Dame , lined with elegant arcades and dominated by an impressive Gothic collegiate church, invites you to stroll under the medieval vaults. You can climb its bell tower to enjoy a magnificent panorama over the city's rooftops and hear the chime of its 48 bells.
Don't miss the Chartreuse Saint-Sauveur, a masterpiece of flamboyant Gothic architecture, as well as the Chapel of the Black Penitents, with its refined Baroque decor. The Urbain-Cabrol Museumtraces the region's history from prehistory to the present day. Lively with its weekly market, artisans, and numerous cultural events, Villefranche is a lively, rich, and authentic stopover.

· Conques , a pilgrimage town with its abbey church and its Soulages stained-glass windows (68 km)

A gem of Romanesque architecture, the Sainte-Foy Abbey of Conques, a World Heritage Site, impresses with its sculpted tympanum and stained-glass windows by Pierre Soulages. The medieval village, a major stop on the Way of St. James, includes winding streets, old houses, and a treasure trove of Carolingian goldwork. It is a spiritual and artistic place, to be explored in silence to feel all its sacred magic .

If you would like to discover Conques in a different way, Greeters d'aicí (local hosts) will welcome you voluntarily for a unique and friendly stroll according to your wishes (see tourist office website).

· Estaing , dominated by its castle and its pretty bridge over the Lot (68 km)

At the foot of the Aubrac mountains, not far from the Gorges du Lot and Truyère, pilgrims on their way to Compostela cross the Gothic Estaing bridge before discovering its 18th-century castle and a Gothic bridge over the Lot. Estaing captivates with its Renaissance elegance. This family village retains a picture-postcard atmosphere: ancient facades, a priory, chapels, and an enchanting natural setting.

· La Couvertoirade , Templar fortress on the Larzac (119 km)

On the Larzac plateau, this ancient Templar citadel is remarkably preserved. This fortified village from the 12th–14th centuries, still inhabited, offers an impressive rampart, towers, a medieval castle, a Hospitaller church, and peaceful alleyways lined with small shops. A jewel of military architecture and medieval daily life.