Things to see and do around Gîte de la Viguerie
Historic villages, Romanesque heritage, vineyards and hiking trails: our guides to plan your stay in Aveyron, between Conques and Marcillac-Vallon.
Conques: visitor's guide to the abbey church of Sainte-Foy
Romanesque tympanum, medieval treasure, Soulages windows: everything to know before visiting this stage on the Way of St James.
Marcillac-Vallon: our guide to the AOP vineyard and the village
AOP vineyard, the Mansois grape, the red Rougier terroir and the Sunday market: our guide to Marcillac-Vallon.
Rodez: pink sandstone cathedral and the Musée Soulages
A Gothic cathedral in pink sandstone and the Musée Soulages and its outrenoir: our guide to Rodez, about 40 minutes from the cottage.
Bozouls: our guide to the horseshoe canyon
A dizzying natural amphitheatre carved by the Dourdou, a Romanesque church on its spur: our guide to Bozouls canyon.
Belcastel, one of the most beautiful villages in France
A castle restored by Fernand Pouillon and a Gothic bridge over the Aveyron: our guide to the village of Belcastel.
Estaing: village, castle and Gothic bridge
The castle of the Estaing admirals and the UNESCO-listed Gothic bridge: our guide to the village, 25 minutes from the cottage.
Espalion: the Old Bridge and the calquières
The UNESCO-listed Old Bridge, the former tanneries and Calmont-d'Olt castle: our guide to Espalion.
Canoeing on the Lot, from Estaing to Espalion
Our tips for paddling down the Lot between Saint-Côme-d'Olt, Espalion and Estaing, at your own pace.
The Aubrac plateau: cows, burons and big skies
High plateaus, Aubrac cows and burons: our guide to the Aubrac plateau, about an hour from the cottage.
Lac de Pareloup, our swimming guide
Our favourite beaches and swimming tips on the largest lake of the Lévézou, 50 minutes from the cottage.
Lac de Pont-de-Salars, our swimming guide
A smaller lake with a village feel: our pick for a family swim on the Lévézou.
Aligot, farçous and gâteau à la broche in Aveyron
Our tour of Aveyron specialities: stretchy aligot, farçous and gâteau à la broche.
Muret-le-Château: village, keep and hidden waterfall
A keep you can't visit but can see from everywhere, and a waterfall many people miss for lack of time.
Salles-la-Source: the village that lives with its waterfall
A village literally built around its waterfall, on three levels clinging to the cliffs of the Causse Comtal.
The Tindoul de la Vayssière, sinkhole of the Causse Comtal
A 67-metre-deep sinkhole explored as early as the 18th century: our guide to the Tindoul de la Vayssière.
Peyrusse-le-Roc: a medieval town reclaimed by nature
A former mining town of 3,500 people, now returned to the forest: our guide for an unhurried half-day.
Villecomtal: our guide to the Petite Cité de Caractère
A red sandstone bastide, a castle and the story of the Enfarinés: our guide to Villecomtal, 5 minutes from the cottage.
Laguiole: the story of the knife and its village
The birth of the legendary knife, the bee symbol and the revival of the workshops: our guide to Laguiole.
Hiking around the cottage: the GR62 and our trails
From the Marcillac vineyard to the Dourdou gorges: our tips for hiking around the cottage and on the GR62.
Swimming in Saint-Cyprien-sur-Dourdou
Our guide to the municipal pool in Saint-Cyprien-sur-Dourdou: pool, paddling pool, opening times and prices.
Canoeing from Vieillevie to Grand-Vabre
Our guide to a family canoe and kayak trip on the Lot, between Vieillevie and Grand-Vabre.
La Vinzelle, our hike from Grand-Vabre
A hamlet perched above the Lot valley, its history and its view: our hike from Grand-Vabre.
The Puech de Kaymard: a 360° panorama
Our guide to the Puech de Kaymard in Saint-Félix-de-Lunel: access from Majorac and a panorama over the Vallon de Marcillac.
Beaucaire castle, the forgotten ruins of Nauviale
A fortress taken apart stone by stone in the 19th century: our guide to the ruins of Beaucaire in Nauviale.
Saint-Jean-le-Froid: the chapel overlooking the Vallon
An 11th-century pilgrimage site with a 360° panorama over the Vallon de Marcillac, from Mouret.
Bournazel: our guide to the Renaissance castle in Aveyron
An unfinished Renaissance palace, sculpted façades and an award-winning restoration: our guide to Bournazel castle.
Decazeville: the former open-cast mines of La Découverte
The largest open-cast mine in France, rehabilitated, with its headframe and lake: our guide to La Découverte.
Cransac: the spa and the burning mountain
A natural phenomenon unique in Europe and a history of mining then spa: our guide to Cransac-les-Thermes.
Notre-Dame de Foncourrieu: the winegrowers' chapel
The serpent legend, 17th-century painted vaults and the winegrowers' Virgin: our guide to the Marcillac chapel.