Aveyron (; oc, Avairon; ) is a

department Department may refer to: * Departmentalization, division of a larger organization into parts with specific responsibility Government and military *Department (administrative division), a geographical and administrative division within a country, ...

in the region of

Occitania Occitania ( oc, Occitània , , or ) is the historical region in Western Europe, Western and Southern Europe where the Occitan language, Occitan language was historically spoken and where it is sometimes still used as a second language. This ...

Southern France Southern France, also known as the South of France or colloquially in French language, French as , is a defined geographical area consisting of the regions of France that border the Atlantic Ocean south of the Marais Poitevin,Louis Papy, ''Le midi ...

. It was named after the river Aveyron. Its inhabitants are known as ''Aveyronnais'' (masculine) or ''Aveyronnaises'' (feminine) in French. The inhabitants of Aveyron's

prefecture A prefecture (from the Latin ''Praefectura'') is an administrative jurisdiction traditionally governed by an appointed prefect. This can be a regional or local government subdivision in various countries, or a subdivision in certain international ...

Rodez Rodez ( or ; oc, Rodés, ) is a small city and commune in the South of France, about 150 km northeast of Toulouse. It is the prefecture of the department of Aveyron, region of Occitania (formerly Midi-Pyrénées). Rodez is the seat of the ...

, are called ''Ruthénois'', based upon the first Celtic settlers in the area, the Ruteni. With an area of and a population of 279,595, Aveyron is a largely rural department with a population density of 32 per square kilometer (83/sq mi).

History

Aveyron is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on 4 March 1790. The first known historical inhabitants of the region were the Rutenii tribe, but the area was inhabited previously to this, boasting many prehistoric ruins including over 1,000

dolmen A dolmen () or portal tomb is a type of single-chamber megalithic tomb, usually consisting of two or more upright megaliths supporting a large flat horizontal capstone or "table". Most date from the early Neolithic (40003000 BCE) and were somet ...

s, more than any other department in France. Victor of Aveyron, 1800

During the medieval and early modern periods, and until the 1790s, the territory covered by Aveyron was a province known as Rouergue. In 1797, Victor of Aveyron (a feral child) was found wandering the woods in the area. The story of Victor is told in the film '' The Wild Child''.

Heraldry

Geography

Aveyron is the centre of a triangle formed by the cities of Toulouse, Clermont-Ferrand, and

Montpellier Montpellier (, , ; oc, Montpelhièr ) is a city in southern France near the Mediterranean Sea. One of the largest urban centres in the region of Occitania (administrative region), Occitania, Montpellier is the prefecture of the Departments of ...

. The department approximately follows the outline of the former province of Rouergue. It is the 5th largest department in metropolitan France in terms of area (). Its prefecture is

. The department comes under the jurisdiction of the

Academy of Toulouse The Academy of Toulouse is a school district in the Occitanie region of southern France. It is administered by a rector. The rectory is located in the city of Toulouse. Departments It combines the educational departments of: * Ariège (09), ...

and the Montpellier

Court of Appeal A court of appeals, also called a court of appeal, appellate court, appeal court, court of second instance or second instance court, is any court of law that is empowered to hear an appeal of a trial court or other lower tribunal. In much of t ...

. The INSEE and Post Code is 12. Aveyron is located in the south of the Massif Central. The highest point in the department is the summit of ''Le Signal de Mailhebiau'' at 1469m on the Plateau of Aubrac. The Aveyron department is divided into several natural regions such as the Grand Causses and Rougiers. Aveyron department consists of an ancient high rocky plateau of great geological diversity. The Truyère,

Lot Lot or LOT or The Lot or ''similar'' may refer to: Common meanings Areas * Land lot, an area of land * Parking lot, for automobiles *Backlot, in movie production Sets of items *Lot number, in batch production *Lot, a set of goods for sale togethe ...

, Aveyron, and Tarn rivers have carved a number of deep gorges. The department is surrounded by those of Tarn, Tarn-et-Garonne,

, Hérault,

Gard Gard () is a department in Southern France, located in the region of Occitanie. It had a population of 748,437 as of 2019;Lozère and Cantal. The Lac de Villefranche-de-Panat is used as a reservoir to provide drinking water supplies for the region.

Climate

Demography

In 2017, the department had 279,206 inhabitants. The evolution of the number of inhabitants is known through the population censuses conducted in the department since 1793.

Principal towns

The most populous commune is

, the prefecture. Of the department's population, 25% live in the four largest communes:

Millau Millau (; oc, Milhau ) is a Communes of France, commune in the Aveyron Departments of France, department in the Occitania (administrative region), Occitanie Regions of France, region in Southern France. One of two Subprefectures in France, subp ...

, Onet-le-Château, and Villefranche-de-Rouergue. As of 2019, there are 7 communes with more than 5,000 inhabitants:Populations légales 2019: 12 Aveyron
INSEE

Second homes

As of 2019, 17.4% of available housing in the department were second homes.

Politics

Departmental Council

The Department Council of Aveyron has 46 seats. The President of the Departmental Council has been Jean-François Galliard of the Union of Democrats and Independents (UDI) from 2017 to 2021. The President has been

Arnaud Viala Arnaud Viala (born 4 December 1974) is a French politician of the Republicans who was Member of Parliament for the Aveyron's 3rd constituency in the French National Assembly from 2015 to 2021. Political career In Parliament, Viala serves on t ...

since 2021.

Members of the National Assembly

Following the 2017 legislative election, Aveyron elected the following representatives to the National Assembly:

Culture

Regional sub-dialect

The regional sub-dialect spoken in Aveyron is a form of Languedoc Occitan called ''Rouergat''. Faced with the risk of disappearance of the language several associations asked the State and political communities for an ambitious language policy.Article in ''La Dépêche.fr'' on 24 October 2009
consulted on 29 December 2009 In Rouergat, ''Aveyron'' is written: *''Avairon'' (traditional Occitan spelling) – e.g. "Roergue forma lo despartament de l'Avairon" *Oboyróu (spelling of Father Vayssier) – e.g. "Rouergue fouórmo lou desportomén de l'Oboyróu"

Tourism

Aveyron contains a part of the

Cévennes National Park Cévennes National Park (french: Parc national des Cévennes) is a French national park located in Southern France, in the mountainous area of Cévennes. Created in 1970, the park has its administrative seat in Florac at Florac Castle. It is l ...

. Tourist attractions include the castle of Najac, a medieval ruin perched high on a hill, and other castles and monasteries such as Conques Abbey, Sylvanès Abbey, Bonneval Abbey and Loc-Dieu Abbey, located near

Martiel Martiel (; oc, Marcièl) is a commune in the Aveyron department in southern France. Population See also *Communes of the Aveyron department The following is a list of the 285 Communes of France, communes of the Aveyron Departments of Fr ...

in a region with many

s. The small city of

is the site of the world's tallest bridge, the Millau viaduct, opened by President

Chirac Jacques René Chirac (, , ; 29 November 193226 September 2019) was a French politician who served as President of France from 1995 to 2007. Chirac was previously Prime Minister of France from 1974 to 1976 and from 1986 to 1988, as well as Ma ...

in December 2004. Activities include horseriding, fishing, swimming in the ''Lacs du Lévézou'' and hiking/camping. The inhabitants are also very good craftsmen, and Aveyron is full of various craft objects, handmade, that can be found locally. Examples include the '' couteau de Laguiole'', the world famous '' Roquefort'' cheese, from the village of the same name and other local produce. Markets take place every Saturday on market places around the region. Saint-Sernin-sur-Rance is the commune where the feral child Victor of Aveyron was found in the late 18th century. File:Rodez cathedrale.JPG,

Rodez Cathedral Rodez Cathedral (french: Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Rodez) is a Roman Catholic church architecture, church located in town of Rodez, in the department of Aveyron in the Occitania (administrative region), Occitanie region of Southern France. The cat ...

File:Estaing - Ville -JPG1.jpg, Estaing File:Chateau de severac le chateau.jpg, Sévérac-le-Château File:Château de Peyrelade-2.JPG,

Château de Peyrelade The Château de Peyrelade is a ruined castle in the ''commune'' of Rivière-sur-Tarn in the Aveyron département of France. The name is derived from the occitan "''Pèira Lada''", meaning wide rock; an accurate description of the site. Objects ...

File:Château Najac.jpg, Château de Najac File:Montpellier-le-Vieux Porte-de-Mycene.jpg, Chaos de Montpellier-le-Vieux

''Les Plus Beaux Villages de France''

Ten towns in Aveyron fall within the classification of a 1901 association '' Les Plus Beaux Villages de France'': * Belcastel *

Brousse-le-Château Brousse-le-Château (; oc, Brossa) is a commune in the Aveyron department Department may refer to: * Departmentalization, division of a larger organization into parts with specific responsibility Government and military *Department (admin ...

* La Couvertoirade *

Conques Conques (; Languedocien dialect, Languedocien: ''Concas'') is a former Communes of France, commune in the Aveyron Departments of France, department in Southern France, in the Occitania (administrative region), Occitania Regions of France, region. ...

* Estaing * Najac * Peyre *

Saint-Côme-d'Olt Saint-Côme-d'Olt (, literally ''Saint-Côme of Olt''; oc, Sant Cosme) is a commune in the Aveyron department in southern France. It is one of the Les Plus Beaux Villages de France (most beautiful villages of France). Geography The commune is ...

Sainte-Eulalie-d'Olt Sainte-Eulalie-d'Olt (Languedocien: ''Senta Aulària d'Òlt'') is a commune in the department Department may refer to: * Departmentalization, division of a larger organization into parts with specific responsibility Government and militar ...

Sauveterre-de-Rouergue Sauveterre-de-Rouergue (, literally ''Sauveterre of Rouergue''; oc, Sauvatèrra) is a commune in the Aveyron department in southern France. It is one of the Les Plus Beaux Villages de France (most beautiful villages of France). Population ...

Other tourist spots

* Roquecézière *

Saint-Geniez-d'Olt Saint-Geniez-d'Olt (, literally ''Saint Geniez of Olt''; oc, Sent Ginièis d'Òlt) is a former commune in the Aveyron department in southern France. On 1 January 2016, it was merged into the new commune of Saint-Geniez-d'Olt-et-d'Aubrac.

* Loc-Dieu Abbey * Bonneval Abbey *

Coupiac Coupiac (; oc, Copiac) is a commune in the Aveyron department in southern France. Population See also *Communes of the Aveyron department The following is a list of the 285 communes of the Aveyron department of France. The communes coo ...

* Aubrac Mountains * Causse du Larzac *

Château de Sévérac The Château de Sévérac is a 13th- and 18th-century castle in the ''commune'' of Sévérac-le-Château in the Aveyron ''département'' of France. The castle site has belonged to several families: the Sévéracs, Armagnacs, and Arpajons. The l ...

* Bournazel *

Baraqueville Baraqueville (; oc, La Barraca de Fraisse) is a Communes of France, commune in the Aveyron Departments of France, department in the Occitania (administrative region), Occitanie region of southern France. The inhabitants of the commune are known ...

Château de Calmont d'Olt The Château de Calmont d'Olt is a castle situated in France, in the Aveyron ''département'' in the ''commune'' of Espalion. Perched atop a basalt dyke at an altitude of 535 m, it overlooks from 100 m the town of Espalion and the valley of the L ...

*Pons *Medieval villages in the Muse Valley: **

Castelnau-Pégayrols Castelnau-Pégayrols (''Castèlnòu de Leveson in Occitan'') is a commune in the Aveyron department in southern France. In addition to its castle and three churches it has a unique mediaeval irrigation system recognised in 1996 as of global imp ...

** Saint-Beauzély **

Montjaux Montjaux (; in Occitan Mont Jòus from the Latin Mons Jovis (Mount Jupiter)) is a commune in the Aveyron department in southern France. Population See also *Communes of the Aveyron department The following is a list of the 285 Communes o ...

* Villefranche-de-Rouergue *

Villeneuve Villeneuve, LaVilleneuve or deVilleneuve may refer to: People * Villeneuve (surname) Places Australia * Villeneuve, Queensland, a town in the Somerset Region Canada * Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, a Formula One racetrack in Montréal * Villeneuv ...

*The ''Trou de Bozouls'' *The ''Tindoul de la Vayssière'' *Vale of Marcillac, Vineyards and towns: ** Marcillac-Vallon **

Salles-la-Source Salles-la-Source (; oc, Las Salas del Comtal) is a commune in the Aveyron department in southern France. The Rodez-Marcillac Airport is located in Salles-la-Source. Population See also *Communes of the Aveyron department The following is ...

Clairvaux-d'Aveyron Clairvaux-d'Aveyron is a commune in the Aveyron department in southern France. Population See also *Communes of the Aveyron department The following is a list of the 285 Communes of France, communes of the Aveyron Departments of France, ...

Muret-le-Château Muret-le-Château (; oc, Muret) is a commune in the Aveyron department in southern France. Population See also *Communes of the Aveyron department The following is a list of the 285 communes of the Aveyron department of France. The comm ...

*The Lakes of Lévézou * Laguiole *The Gorges du Tarn * Sainte-Eulalie-de-Cernon *

Salles-Curan Salles-Curan (; oc, Las Salas) is a commune in the Aveyron department in southern France. Geography The ''lac de Pareloup'' forms part of the commune's northern border. The river Céor has its source in the western part of the commune. P ...

and the Lac de Pareloup *

Salvagnac-Cajarc Salvagnac-Cajarc (; oc, Salvanhac de Cajarc) is a commune in the Aveyron department in southern France. Population See also *Communes of the Aveyron department The following is a list of the 285 Communes of France, communes of the Avey ...

* Roquefort-sur-Soulzon * Saint-Sernin-sur-Rance, classed as a historic area with the " Feral child": Victor of Aveyron *

Peyrusse-le-Roc Peyrusse-le-Roc (; oc, Peirussa) is a commune in the Aveyron department in southern France. The Château Inférieur is a ruined castle A castle is a type of fortified structure built during the Middle Ages predominantly by the nob ...

*Grotto of Foissac *The Basin of Decazeville ( Decazeville, Aubin,

Cransac Cransac () is a commune in the Aveyron department in southern France. Cransac station has rail connections to Brive-la-Gaillarde, Figeac and Rodez. The town was a coal-mining centre until the mine closed in 1962. Cransac has mineral springs, k ...

Firmi Firmi (; oc, Firmin) is a commune in the Aveyron department in southern France. Population See also *Communes of the Aveyron department The following is a list of the 285 communes of the Aveyron department of France. The communes cooper ...

and Viviez) with old coal mines.

Societies

*''Central Agricultural Society of Aveyron'', founded in 1798 *''Society of letters, sciences and arts of Aveyron'', founded in 1836

Notable people linked to the department

*Déodat Alaus, master mason of the 15th century, builder of the city ramparts of the Templars and Hospitallers city of Larzac *Ambrose Crozot, painter, born in

at the end of the 17th century * Denis Auguste Affre, Archbishop of Paris (1793–1848) * Georges d'Armagnac, Bishop of Avignon, cardinal and

Bishop of Rodez The Diocese of Rodez (–Vabres) ( la, Dioecesis Ruthenensis (–Vabrensis); French: ''Diocèse de Rodez (–Vabres)'') is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Catholic Church in France. The episcopal see is in Rodez. The ...

(died in 1585) *Marie–Auguste de Balsac, high functionary *Louis Balsan, archaeologist, caver, one of the last great disciples of Martel (1903–1988) *Adolphe de Barrau, naturalist (1803–1884) *Hippolyte de Barrau, founder of the Society of Letters, scholar (1794–1863) *Justin Bessou, Occitan poet (1845–1918) *Adolphe Boisse, engineer and politician (1810–1896) * Louis Gabriel Ambroise de Bonald, philosopher (1754–1840) *

Louis-Jacques Maurice de Bonald Louis Jacques Maurice de Bonald (30 October 1787 – 23 February 1870) was a French cardinal and Archbishop of Lyon.Émile Borel, mathematician (1871–1956) * José Bové, anti-globalizationist, MEP since 2009, farmer, activist and former spokesman of French farmers union ''Confédération paysanne'', peasant in the cause of Larzac (1953 -) * Michel Bras (1946 -), chef. * Jean Carrier, clergyman of the 15th century, the last supporter and successor of the Antipope Benedict XIII under the name of Benedict XIV * Edouard de Castelnau, General (1851–1944) *Marc Cenci, former president of the Regional Council of Midi-Pyrénées, former mayor of Rodez (1936 -) *Hippolyte Coste, botanist (1858–1924) *Jean-Louis Cromières, artisan farmer who "revived" the Laguiole knife *François d'Estaing,

(1501–1529) *François Fabié, poet (1846–1926) * Jean-Henri Fabre, French entomologist and writer (1823–1915) * Robert Fabre, founder of the Movement of Radicals of the left, Ombudsman (1915–2006) *

Maurice Fenaille Maurice Fenaille (12 June 1855 – 11 December 1937) was a French businessman and pioneer in the petroleum industry The petroleum industry, also known as the oil industry or the oil patch, includes the global processes of exploration, extrac ...

, patron (1855–1937) *

Denis-Luc Frayssinous Denis-Antoine-Luc, comte de Frayssinous (9 May 176512 December 1841) was a French prelate and statesman, orator and writer. He was the eighth member elected to occupy Seat 3 of the Académie Française in 1822. Biography De Frayssinous was born ...

, bishop and tutor of the Dauphin *Antoine Bernardin Fualdes, prosecutor, assassinated (1761–1817) *

Gustave Garrigou Cyprien Gustave Garrigou (; 24 September 1884 – 23 January 1963) was one of the best professional racing cyclists of his era. He rode the Tour de France eight times and won once. Of 117 stages, he won eight, came in the top ten 96 times and ...

, winner of the Tour de France in 1911, born in

Vabre-Tizac Vabre-Tizac (; Languedocien dialect, Languedocien: ''Vabre e Tisac'') is a former Communes of France, commune in the Aveyron Departments of France, department in the Occitania (administrative region), Occitanie Regions of France, region in sout ...

Alexandre Geniez Alexandre Geniez (born 16 April 1988) is a French professional cyclist, who last rode for UCI ProTeam . In March 2022 Geniez was convicted of domestic violence charges and given a four month suspended prison sentence. On 31 May 2022 terminated ...

, racing cyclist *Charles Girou de Buzareingues, agronomist and philosopher *Jacques d'Izarn Valady, officer, deputy, shot (1766–1793) * Guy Lacombe, football coach (1955–) *Amédée-Jean-Baptiste Latieule, Bishop of Vannes (1838–1903) *Jean-Claude Luche, Chairman of the General Council of Aveyron * Cardinal Marty, Archbishop of Paris (1904–1994) *

Amans-Alexis Monteil Amans-Alexis Monteil (7 June 176920 February 1850), French historian, was born at Rodez, and died at Cely (Seine-et-Marne). His tastes were historical, and he taught history at Rodez, at Fontainebleau and at St Cyr. He held that a disproportionat ...

, historian (1769–1850) *Antoine de Morlhon, bishop (1753–1828) *Auguste de Morlhon, bishop (1799–1862) * Alain Peyrefitte, writer, minister, member of the

Académie française An academy (Attic Greek: Ἀκαδήμεια; Koine Greek Ἀκαδημία) is an institution of secondary education, secondary or tertiary education, tertiary higher education, higher learning (and generally also research or honorary membershi ...

(1925–1999) * Pierre Poujade, politician, was born and lived in Labastide l'Evêque * Denys Puech, sculptor, director of the Villa Medicis (1854–1942) * Jean Puech, former President of the General Council of Aveyron, Senator, and former minister (1942 -) *Jacques Puel, Ruthénois physician specializing in cardiothoracic surgery (1949–2008) * Guillaume-Thomas Raynal, historian, philosopher (1713–1796) * Emilie de Rodat, founder of the congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Villefranche (1787–1852) * Richard Sainct, motorcycle rider (1970–2004) * Pierre Frédéric Sarrus, mathematician (1798–1861) * Pierre Soulages, painter (1919–2022) *

Jean Verdier Jean Verdier, PSS (19 February 1864 – 9 April 1940) was a French Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Archbishop of Paris from 1929 until his death, and was elevated to the cardinalate in 1929. Biography Jean Verdier was born ...

, Cardinal Archbishop of Paris (1864–1940) *

Eugène Viala Eugène Viala (8 September 1859, Salles-Curan - 5 March 1913, Salles-Curan) was a French watercolorist and engraver. Biography He began his studies in 1877 at the École des Beaux-Arts in Montpellier, then, in 1881, enrolled at the Académie J ...

, painter, poet (1859–1913) *

Auguste Denayrouze August Denayrouze (1837–1883) was an inventor of a demand valve for control of breathing air supply, and one of the inventors of a diving suit, along with Benoît Rouquayrol. Biography Denayrouze was born on October 1, 1837, at Montpeyroux, ...

, Scientist, Inventor, writer (1837–1883) *

Gaëtan Roussel Gaëtan Roussel (; born 13 October 1972, Rodez) is a French singer-songwriter and composer. Roussel is the former lead vocalist for the bands, Louise Attaque and Tarmac. Roussel embarked on a solo career and began recording an album in 2009. H ...

, songwriter (1972–) *Father Aimé Vayssier, ecclesiastical bachelor of letters, author of the ''French patois dictionary of the department of Aveyron'' (1821–1875) *Dom Pierre Guérin, ecclesiastic from Nantes, Rouergat poet (1608–1698) *

Jules Merviel Jules Merviel (Saint-Beauzély, 29 September 1906 — Toulon, 1 September 1976) was a French professional road bicycle racer. Merviel won a stage in the 1930 Tour de France. In the 1935 Tour de France, he hit the back of a truck and did not race ...

, cyclist active in the 1930s, born in Saint-Beauzély (1906–1976) * Bertrand Delanoe, French politician and Mayor of Paris (1950–) * Cyril Lignac, French chef and TV host *

Jean Boudou Joan Bodon (; french: Jean Boudou), who was born in Crespin, Aveyron, Occitania (France) on December 11, 1920, and died on February 24, 1975, in Algeria. He was an author who wrote exclusively in Occitan although he is credited as being called ''J ...

, Occitan writer born in Crespin (home of Joan Bodon) * Bernard Laporte, rugby coach (1964–) *

Francis Poulenc Francis Jean Marcel Poulenc (; 7 January 189930 January 1963) was a French composer and pianist. His compositions include songs, solo piano works, chamber music, choral pieces, operas, ballets, and orchestral concert music. Among the best-kno ...

, Composer (1899–1963)

Bibliography

*Encyclopedia Bonneton, ''Aveyron'', Christine Bonneton, 2005 *Jean-Michel Cosson, ''Dictionary of Aveyron'', Loubatières, *Daniel Crozes, ''The Guide to Aveyron'', Éditions du Rouergue, *Aue/Miche, ''Aveyron (Discovered)'', MSM, *Dominique Auzias, Jean-Paul Labourdette, ''The small clever Aveyron'', Collectif, Nouvelles Éditions Université, *Paul Astruc, ''Major Criminal cases of Aveyron'', Éditions De Borée, *Christian Bernard, ''Aveyron in flowers: Illustrated inventory of vascular plants of Aveyron department'', Éditions du Rouergue, *Francine Claustres, ''Aveyron Cuisine'', Sud Ouest, *''Aveyron: Farming Yields'', Du Curieux, *French Hiking Federation, ''Aveyron on foot'', Guide FFRP, *French Hiking Federation, ''The most beautiful villages in Aveyron… on foot: 20 walks and hikes'', FFRP, *Hubert Calmette, ''The paths of Émilie in Aveyron'', French Hiking Federation, *Richard André, Romain Pages Éditions, ''Le Parc naturel régional des Grands Causses'', *Rémi Soulié, ''The old Rouergue: Land of Aveyron'', Paris, *Alain Marc, ''Aveyron, Logbooks'', Éditions du Rouergue, *Laurent Millet, ''Family names of Aveyron'', Archives Cult, *Laurent Barthe, ''Of Rouergue in Aveyron'', Empreinte, *''Aveyron 1900–1920'' Édition De Boree, *Jean-Michel Cosson, Stéphane Monnet, ''Aveyron in the 1939–1945 war'', Éditions De Boré, *Jill Dawson, Béatrice Dunner, ''The wild child of Aveyron'', Du Rocher, *Jean Itard, ''Victor de l'Aveyron'', Allia, *Dagonet/Christian, ''Regards to Aveyron'', De Borée, *Nicole de Bertier, ''Meeting in Aveyron'', '' Equinoxe,

References

External links

Prefecture website

Departmental council of Aveyron's website

Aveyron's bulletin board
* {{Authority control Massif Central 1790 establishments in France Departments of Occitania (administrative region) States and territories established in 1790