Travelling the Lot Valley and the Aveyron: the south of France never ceases to surprise.

I love travelling the Valley of the Lot and the Aveyron. Rolling landscapes, lush meadows, rich valleys, thriving agricultural land and excellent roads are what I remember when I close my eyes and think about travelling the region of the Aveyron and the valley of the Lot.
For some it is uneasy to get to, but new transportation facilities have changed that: you can easily fly to Rodez .  The impfressive Viaduc de Millau has put a new face on car travel across what was, not long ago, a tedious, slow and polluted crossing from one side of the Tarn to the other. This is a region of smooth roads, well-banked and easy to travel without compromising the legendary small side roads which will take you up a hill, across a ridge and down another aspect to discover the deep, genuine parts that cling to the patrimoine the French are, justly so, eager to preserve and share. I crossed the Aveyron in two directions last summer: east to west, then north to south and added to the trip I took the previous summer east to west on the southern half of the department. Each new crossing brings new discoveries and the mental picture I now have of a very rural department with a history that I have yet to explore in depth is getting more diverse and richer with each trip. Given the opportunity the relationship with such an area becomes very personal. As the landscapes are rich and thriving, colourful and neatly organised, the people there are welcoming, friendly and easy to talk to. Add to this a warm accent from that particular area of the south and the picture begins to come to life.  It is an area which really “grows” on you becoming more familiar with each visit, and inviting to you to return soon.
 
Read more about the Lot in the fall on the next page soon to be published.
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