Millau - Aveyron
Aveyron
The
Aveyron is a land of 1400m high mountains, and green pastures, of
forests and stone built villages of character, of rivers and steep sided
gorges. It is a land of gastronomic repute. It is a diverse land with
many cultural sites. Unfortunately it lies on the routes south to the
sun and not many people stop to sample its delights, and that in itself
is one of the pleasures of the Aveyron.
The
Dolmens of the Aveyron
In the region of
the Aveyron there are more than 800 Dolmens. The word Dolmen comes from the
Breton (
Brittany
) language. “Dol” signifying “table” and “men” meaning a
“stone” They were built as funeral chambers, and almost always
closed on the west side but open on the east to enable further burials.
Many dolmens have been destroyed by the weather and farming, but many
objects found in their vicinity are housed in a Museum at Rouergue and
also at Severac le Chateau.
A 40 mile circuit
can be followed to view some of the remaining dolmens by leaving Severac
le Chateau in the direction of Rodez on the N88 road and after 5 kms
follow the D96 on the right and follow the signs.
MILLAU
A busy town on the
right bank of the
Tarn
, opposite its junction with the River Dourbie. Millau lies at the
centre of the wild region south of the
Auvergne
- a region of semi-barren limestone plateau (causses), and dramatic
gorges. Here the warmth of the Midi is chilled by the winds from the
Massif Central
.
Thousands of ewes graze
on the meagre grass of the causses; their milk goes to Roquefort sur
Soulzon, south of Millau, to make the famous cheese, and their Iambs go
to Millau to provide skins for its famous glove industry which goes back
to the 12th-c.
In Gallo-Roman times
the town (Emilium Castrum) was widely known for pottery
made at La Graufesenque, just south of the town, and examples of it have
been excavated at sites as far apart as
Pompeii
and
Scotland
. These local industries of ancient pottery-making and the more recent
glove-making, are well illustrated in the town's museum in the arcaded
Place du Marechal Foch. It is here in the center of the old town, where
the most interesting buildings are to be found.
Millau is a popular
town for exploring the gorges of the two rivers that meet here.
The Gorges du Tarn is
reached by driving north on the N9 and then turning east on the D107.
The Gorges du Tarn is well signposted.
For the Gorges du Dourbie take the picturesque road, which follows the twists and turns of
the river and ravines as far as Nant.
It also a popular
location for hang gliding, and throughout the year hang gliders can be
seen soaring over the town.
Numerous wild vulture can be seen flying over the Jonte Gorges. A
colony of 180 vultures live in total freedom on the Corniches of the
Méjean. You can observe them
and learn about them at the Vulture Viewing Point (Belvédère
des Vautours).
2004
: opening of the Millau Viaduct
The A75 Autoroute
represents an alternative to the
Rhone
valley route that was close to saturation, the Millau viaduct and the 40
additional kilometres of the A75 was opened to traffic for the Christmas
holidays. Of vital importance to the region, the viaduct will do away
with the infamous Millau bottleneck, saving thirty minutes under normal
circumstances and up to four hours on certain weekends in the summer.
Of national and
international significance, the viaduct is thought to be equal as a
tourist attraction to the
Eiffel
Tower.
Severac
le Chateau
Severac le Chateau
has been occupied by man since prehistoric times. Today it is dominated
by it’s chateau at an altitude 817meters, that offers a superb
panoramic view. The chateau was built on the top of a hill overlooking
the the ancient town that was surrounded by ramparts and four fortified
doors, two of which survive to this day. The Chateau is used frequently
for festivals and occasionally the villagers dress in the costume of the
period and meals are served in the old banqueting hall.
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