A paradise for walkers and sports enthusiasts

With 1,250 kilometres of Grande Randonnée (GR) trails and 5,300 kilometres of Promenades et Randonnées (walks and hikes), Aveyron is a paradise for hiking enthusiasts. Ask at your campsite reception. They’ll be able to tell you which are the most beautiful walks around you. The region is also a delight for lovers of white-water sports and the great outdoors. The hiking trails are ideal for mountain biking, while the Dourbie, Tarn and Lot rivers are ideal for canoeing. The cliffs and rocky outcrops of the region are also renowned among rock-climbing enthusiasts. At the confluence of the Tarn and Dourbie rivers, Millau is famous for paragliding. In the evening, as the sun sets, it’s not unusual to see dozens of sails colouring the blue skies of southern Aveyron.

Camping le Muret, between the Viaur and Aveyron gorges

Camping Le Muret is a small campsite with 44 places, including 34 camping pitches, in the heart of the Ségala countryside. This is authentic countryside, nicknamed the land of 100 valleys because of its location between the Aveyron and Viaur valleys. The small lake at the heart of the campsite adds to the charm of the place, especially at the end of the day when the rays of the setting sun are reflected on its surface. The campsite restaurant serves local produce to remind you that Aveyron is also a land of good food.

Camping le Val de Saures between Lot and Truyère rivers

Situated at the confluence of the Lot and Truyère rivers, Val de Saures campsite awaits you in the village of Entraygues in Aveyron, a delightful medieval town. It offers 103 places on 96 pitches spread over 2.6 hectares of shady grounds. Close to the shops, it’s the ideal destination for motorhome users, who won’t need to move their vehicle to get to the village.

Campsite Via Natura les Cerisiers near Millau

At the entrance to the Gorges du Tarn, Les Cerisiers is a delightful campsite on a human scale with 80 places, including 70 camping pitches. A member of the Via Natura association, this campsite nestles in an exceptional natural setting at the entrance to the Gorges du Tarn. It is set in 2.5 hectares of wooded grounds. There are some 300 trees of around fifty different species. The Tarn, which borders the campsite, offers a pleasant swimming beach for all the family.

Campsite in Aveyron with heated swimming pool: Les Prades in the Gorges du Tarn

Camping Les Prades enjoys an idyllic location in the spectacular Gorges du Tarn. It has two private beaches where you can go swimming or children can play in the river. Although it has a unique natural environment, this 4-star campsite also has all the comforts you could wish for, with a heated swimming pool, spa, bar and restaurant.

Camping le Roc qui Parle in the Dourbie valley

Le Roc qui Parle campsite nestles in an exceptional setting in the heart of the unspoilt Dourbie valley. The campsite slopes down to the river Dourbie, where campers can enjoy a refreshing swim. Two kilometres away, the village of Nant offers shops and restaurants in the shadow of its medieval covered market. The campsite offers 70 spacious, green pitches.

Campsite with swimming pool in the dourbie valley: les 2 Vallées at the gates of the village of Nant

Just outside the village of Nant, in the Dourbie valley, you’ll find Les 2 Vallées campsite. This campsite has a heated swimming pool and access to the Durzon river which runs alongside. The village of Nant is within walking distance of the campsite. It is a charming medieval village with shops (butcher’s, baker’s, supermarket, etc.) and several restaurants around the medieval covered market in the centre of the village. It will be particularly attractive to motorhome owners, who won’t have to move their vehicle during their stay in Aveyron.

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Touring pitches in Conques in Aveyron

You reach Conques by following the winding road that runs alongside the river Dourdou. The village suddenly reveals itself to you at the bend in the road, clinging to the hillside. It is easy to imagine the admiration of the pilgrims who once followed the road to Santiago de Compostela when they first discovered this magnificent village, all in red stone. Conques has been attracting pilgrims on their way to Spain for a thousand years. Its Romanesque abbey of Sainte-Foy was built between the 11th and 12th centuries. It can be seen at the end of the long pedestrian street that crosses the village from one side to the other. It is at sunset that it takes on its full majesty, when the sun illuminates its western tympanum. This sculpture representing the Last Judgement through 124 characters is one of the masterpieces of Romanesque art. When night falls, from May to October, it is highlighted by a polychromy that reminds us that in the past it was enhanced with bright colours. So enjoy the show during your camping holiday in Conques in the Aveyron.

“Tresor” and stained glass windows by Pierre Soulages in the abbey of Sainte-Foy in Conques

In addition to its sumptuous façade, the Sainte-Foy de Conques Abbey is a treasure trove. It houses 250 chapiteaux spread over two levels and beautiful stained glass windows by the painter Pierre Soulages. The painter was born in Rodez, a few kilometres from Conques, and he admits that his love for art was born when he discovered the abbey. If you want to learn more about the painter during your camping holiday in Conques in the Aveyron, you can also visit the museum dedicated to him in Rodez. After the stained glass windows of Pierre Soulages, you can go and admire the Treasure of Conques. This collection of religious silverware is the most complete in France. Its masterpiece is the reliquary statue of Sainte-Foy which dates from the 9th century.

Stroll through the medieval streets of Conques

If the abbey is the highlight of any visit to Conques, you should not forget the rest of the village. As you wander through a maze of narrow cobbled streets, you will discover the secrets of this small town: timber-framed houses with lauze roofs, bread ovens, fountains, etc. Once fortified, Conques has preserved several defensive elements such as an enclosing tower or the Vinzelle gate. On the heights of the village, the château d’Humières is a very fine example of 15th and 16th century civil architecture.

Medieval bridge over the Dourdou

Leaving the village centre and following the GR65, the route taken by pilgrims to Conques, you will come to the medieval bridge over the Dourdou. This bridge dates from the 14th century. It is composed of 5 arches and is 40 metres long. It was an obligatory passage for pilgrims. On your way you will see the Sainte-Foy chapel. Traditionally, pilgrims ring a bell here and hope for a response from the monks of Conques.

Touring pitches in Aveyron

Une sélection de campings à Conques pour vos vacances en caravane, tente ou camping-car en Aveyron.

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The Gorges du Tarn is a magnificent winding canyon drawn by the Tarn between the Causse Méjean and the Causse du Sauveterre. In the limestone soil of the Grands Causses, the river has taken its time to dig a deep gash. Bordered by a road which connects Millau to Florac without ever leaving the river, the Gorges du Tarn can be discovered by car, on foot or by canoe. Hiking trails allow you to play tightrope walkers on the ledges which overhang the high cliffs, real stone walls which surround the Tarn. The Gorges road is a superb route to be completed by car. Never boring, this itinerary takes you from village to village through some of the most spectacular landscapes of the gorges. By canoe or during a boat trip, you will be offered another view of the gorges. You will discover the cliffs on the right bank which can only be seen from the road.

Going up the Tarn Gorges

Castelbouc

During your walk in the Tarn Gorges, take the time to stop and visit some of the villages which are dotted along the river. If you discover the Gorges du Tarn by following the current, from the Lozère to the Aveyron, then make a first stop at Castelbouc. On the left bank of the Tarn, this semi-troglodytic hamlet seems to be suspended from the cliff, in the shade of the ruins of its medieval castle set on a steep rock 60 metres high. Legend has it that a lord who remained alone among his subjects during the Crusades lived a life of lust. At the time of his death, the silhouette of a goat is said to have been seen flying over the castle, giving the village the name of Castelbouc (Bouc is goat in french).

Sainte-Enimie

Listed as one of the most beautiful villages in France, this village spreads out in terraces at the foot of an old Benedictine monastery in a meander of the Tarn. Legend has it that Princess Enimie, affected by leprosy, came here to treat her illness at the source of the Burle river. She withdrew to a cave to live as a hermit in the heights of the village. A chapel now protects the cave. A path that starts opposite the bridge of Sainte-Enimie leads to this hermitage (about 3/4 of an hour round trip). There you can enjoy a beautiful view of the village.

Saint-Chély

On the left bank of the Tarn, the charming village of Saint-Chély nestles at the bottom of a circus surrounded by high cliffs, at the foot of the Méjean causse. In addition to its very beautiful church with its square bell tower, its old bridge and its medieval houses, the village is especially worth visiting for this magnificent setting. Two resurgences which cascade down into the Tarn river magnificently complete the picture. Below the village, the beach of Saint-Chély is one of the most beautiful of the Gorges du Tarn.

La Malène

Although La Malène is a pretty village with medieval buildings, it does not have the charm of Sainte-Enimie or Saint-Chély. It is however an important stopover in the Gorges du Tarn. It is indeed the starting point of many canoe descents as well as the base of the boatmen of the Malène. The latter offer you boat trips on the emerald waters of the Tarn de la Malène to the Baumes cirque through the Détroits. The morning is the best time of day for a boat or canoe trip from the Malène. The route benefits from beautiful sunshine during this part of the day.

Les Détroits, the most spectacular part of the Tarn Gorges

The straits are the most beautiful and narrowest part of the canyon. Here, the Tarn is enclosed between vertiginous cliffs which plunge steeply into the river. In some places, the canyon is barely more than 30 metres wide at the bottom of the gorges and 100 metres at the top of the cliffs, between the Causse Méjean and the Causse du Sauveterre. A boat or canoe trip remains the best way to enjoy the spectacular scenery of the straits. It is also the best way to appreciate the depth of the gorges which sink in certain points 600 metres below the plateau.

The Cirque des Baumes

The straits come to an end in the Cirque des Baumes. Here, the canyon widens and composes a circus hollowed out of caves, baumas in Occitan. Many birds nest in its red-coloured cliffs. With these cliffs but also its ruiniform rocks, the cirque des Baumes is a particularly popular climbing spot.

The “Point Sublime”

Arrived at the village of Les Vignes, let us leave the Gorges for a moment to join the Causse du Sauveterre which culminates here at 870 metres altitude. Following the signs, go to the belvedere of the Point-Sublime. There, you will remain speechless in front of an exceptional panorama which encompasses a large part of the Gorges du Tarn, the Tarn which winds 400 metres lower and the steep cornices of the Méjean causse. If you only have to take one photo when you visit the Tarn gorges during your camping holiday in Lozère, this is the place to take it!

Hiking on the Corniches of the Tarn and the Jonte from Le Rozier

Back in the valley, the road leads us to Le Rozier. This village is situated at the confluence of the Tarn and the Jonte rivers and at the meeting of the Méjean, the Causse Noir and the Causse du Sauveterre. Nothing justifies a visit to Le Rozier. However, at the exit of the village the rock of Capluc awaits you. At the top of this rock, accessible by ladders, is one of the most beautiful points of view of the region as it allows you to admire both the Gorges du Tarn and the Gorges de la Jonte. Be careful however: climbing the rock with ladders can be difficult if you are prone to vertigo. From the Capluc rock starts one of the most beautiful hikes in the region. This loop takes you first of all to the ledges of the Tarn, before turning to the ledges of the Jonte, famous for the Sèvre and China vases, rocks with surprising shapes. During this hike, raise your eyes to the sky. You should see vultures which are numerous to nest in the Jonte Gorges. Count between 3 and 4 hours of walking for this tour.

Once past the village of Le Rozier, the Gorges widen. The Tarn river, the Jonte, forms a valley where vines and cherry trees grow. Less spectacular, the landscapes are no less beautiful. And there are plenty of excuses to make a stopover, starting with the medieval village of Mostuéjouls with its cobbled streets or the castle of Peyrelade. The latter is a perched medieval fortress (12th century) which watches over the entrance to the Gorges du Tarn. During the summer season, the visit of the castle is enhanced by medieval animations. Consult the castle’s website to find out the exact dates of these events.

Our campsites in the Gorges du Tarn

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The history of the Templars on the Larzac

The Order of the Templars was established in 1129, 30 years after the first crusade. This religious and military order was intended to protect pilgrims who were travelling to the Holy Land in Jerusalem. In order to carry out and finance its missions, the Templars founded throughout Christian Europe, a network of monasteries called “commanderies”. The most important in France is located on the Larzac following the donation of the church of Sainte-Eulalie-de-Cernon to order by the abbot of Saint-Guilhem-le-Desert. In addition to the village of Sainte-Eulalie, five fortified sites were created on the Larzac: La Cavalerie, Saint-Jean-d’Alcas, Le Viala-du-Pas-de-Jaux and La Couvertoirade. The influence of the Templars, however, extended beyond these walls as they strongly influenced the Larzac plateau, developing sheep farming in particular. From this period has survived the tradition of the “lavognes”, these artificial ponds with a stone bottom intended to collect rainwater on this arid plateau where water is scarce. You can admire one near the Couvertoirade, the most emblematic of the Templar cities of Larzac. When the Order of the Templars was dissolved by Pope Clement V, following the conflicts between the King of France and the papacy, his property was given to the order of the Hospitaliers who took over from the Templars. It was the Hospitaliers who built the ramparts of the Covered in the 15th century.

The village of La Couvertoirade, a dive in the 15th century

When the Templars settled on the Larzac in the mid-12th century, the seat of the order command was located in Sainte-Eulalie-de-Cernon. However, if your visit was to be limited to a single Templar site on the Larzac, choose La Couvertoirade. Of all the Templar sites of the Larzac, it is the one that has best preserved its medieval character. The village has changed little since the 15th century. It did not extend outside its ramparts and it has preserved, behind them, period buildings with lauze roofs.

You can see the village of La Couvertoirade away. He stands alone in the middle of the Larzac. Several (paying) car parks are accessible outside the city, fully pedestrianised, except for the few people who live there. The car parks are about a hundred metres from the ramparts. As you approach, you will have the opportunity to admire this stone wall 12 meters high and 400 meters long and pierced by two doors. No sooner have you entered the walls than you will find yourself immersed in the middle of the Middle Ages. Here, everything has indeed retained its authentic character with traditional stone houses. The ground floor is often composed of a vaulted room that was once used as a sheepfold, while the first floor, accessed by an external staircase, served as a dwelling. You will notice during your visit, thistles hanging from the doors of houses. They are cardabelles, the emblem of the region. It was hung at the doors in order to ward off evil, but also to use it as a barometer. Their hearts open and close depending on the level of humidity in the air. You’ll find cardabelles on the Larzac. However, do not plan to take one home. Now protected, it is forbidden to pick them.

You can visit the Couvertoirade by strolling through its old alleys lined with craft shops and restaurants (personally, we love the Crêperie, take the time to enjoy a pancake!), but also following the round path on the top of the ramparts (3 euros per person). You can access it by way of the house of the Scipione which houses the reception point of the village as well as an exhibition hall. To learn more about the village, you can also choose to take part in a guided tour or use an audio guide (5 euros for a walk of about 1 hour and a half). Whichever way you visit the village, you’ll easily understand why La Couvertoirade is listed among the most beautiful villages in France and why Larzac is part of the Great Causses territory, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Templar Castle of La Couvertoirade

The Château de la Couvertoirade, built straddling the 12th and 13th centuries, is unique in two ways. It is first of all the only Templar castle built in France at this time and its romanesque dungeon with an unusual shape has no equivalent on the Larzac. If you have time, you can visit it (5 euros per person for the guided tour).

To learn more about the Cover: http://lacouvertoirade.com/

Our campsites near La Couvertoirade

Whether you are travelling in a tent, a motorhome or a caravan, we offer a selection of campsites near La Couvertoirade and the Larzac.

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