Le Aubrac plateau, a mid-mountain massif at the crossroads of Aveyron, Cantal and Lozère, awaits you for an exotic and unique experience. Discover its vast desert expanses which feature a different face every season. High place of breeding of Aubrac cows, it is also the cradle of Laguiole knives, an emblematic village located in the heart of the Aubrac Regional Natural Park. Are you ready to discover all the secrets of our region? Go for it, Aubrac is waiting for you.
A natural fortress, a desert. The sky, the mineral, the vegetal, here everything brings you back to the essentials.
The Aubrac plateau: between Aveyron, Cantal and Lozère
The Aubrac plateau is a volcanic plateau de middle Mountain. He is riding on three departments : Aveyron, Cantal and Lozère. Covering an area of 2 km², its altitude varies between 500 meters and 1 meters above sea level. Its highlight is the Mailhebiau signal which culminates at 1 meters in the town of Trélans in Lozère. The area making up Aubrac is delimited to the south by the Lot Valley which is full of beautiful medieval villages, to the west by the Gorges de la Truyère bordered by wild forests and to the east by the Margeride dotted with large blocks of granite. .
Curiosity: the cross of the Three Bishops at the crossroads of the departments of Aveyron, Cantal and Lozère
Between Aubrac and Laguiole, you can see a stone cross on the side of the road. It was erected in 1238 by the monks of the domerie of Aubrac, in memory of a council held in 590 between the bishops of the dioceses of Gévaudan (Lozère), Rouergue (Aveyron) and Auvergne (Cantal). The cross of the Three Bishops symbolizes the common belonging of the inhabitants for this unique land that is Aubrac, whatever their department.
The Aubrac mountains: unique landscapes
Aubrac offers a diversity of landscapes one of a kind. On the high plateau, you will be at the heart of large spaces, surrounded by pastures where the pure waters of the streams meander. In spring, Aubrac is covered with a multitude of multicolored flowers, some species of which are found only in this area. As you walk on the plateau, you will be able to notice the remains of the volcanic past of the Aubrac massif passing near basaltic organs or old lava chimneys.
Aubrac is also big woods which border the boraldes, these streams which flow into the Lot valley and which form steep valleys as they pass. THE Truyère gorges to the West offer a totally different landscape, wild and vertiginous, where the green of the trees is reflected in lake water and rivers.
All of this unique landscapes are an excellent playground for all lovers of nature andoutdoor activities. Whether on foot, by bike, on the water, in the air or clinging to a wall, come and discover Aubrac as you have never seen it.
Aubrac: a thoroughfare for centuries
The Aubrac plateau has always been a place of life. It has been occupied by men since the Neolithic era. First covered with wood, the tray was gradually cleared to create pastures. It was there'breeding sheep which was the most present in the country, before becoming the cradle of Aubrac cows. This farming land is also a thoroughfare borrowed by men for centuries. During the Gallo-Roman era, a communication route crossed the plateau to the Lot valley.
Remains of its paving are still visible on some paths in our regions. In the Middle Ages, this trade route was taken to get to Santiago de Compostela by pilgrimage. The difficult mountain climate, as well as the insecurity of crossing the plateau, prompted a Flemish nobleman to create a monastery-hospital on the plateau to help and guide people passing through. It's here Aubrac domery.
A living mountain, rich in heritage
Today, the Aubrac plateau is a very lively country, despite its low population density. There are about six inhabitants per square kilometer. Aubrac lives above all onagriculture, whether with the breeding of Aubrac cows for meat or for milk. THE tourism also plays a large part in the territory's economy, as does thecrafts with many companies that manufacture Laguiole knives in the village of the same name.
La gastronomy is one of the riches of Aubrac. The making of Laguiole PDO cheese is one of the most important activities in the region. The signature dish is'Aligot, which you can taste in our restaurants or share during the many events that take place throughout the year and which highlight our traditions and customs.
Questions ? We must have the answer
Where is the Aubrac plateau?
The Aubrac plateau is a mountainous region of France located south of the Massif Central, straddling three departments:Aveyron, Cantal and Lozère.
What are the towns in Aubrac?
The Aubrac plateau, today made up of Regional Natural Park, brings together 64 municipalities. These communes are mostly small villages. On the Aveyron part, we can cite: Laguiole, Saint-Chély-d'Aubrac, Sainte-Geneviève-sur-Argence, Saint-Amans-des-Côts, Mur-de-Barrez. The Aubrac area is bounded by villages such as Entraygues-sur-Truyère and Saint-Geniez-d'Olt to the south (in the Lot Valley); Chaudes-Aigues (Cantal) to the north; Peyre-en-Aubrac and Nasbinals (Lozère) to the East.
How to get to the Aubrac plateau?
Coming to the Aubrac plateau has to be earned. Over there road., the plateau is bordered by the highway A75 which connects Clermont-Ferrand to the Mediterranean. You can also borrow thehighway from Toulouse and join Rodez and the plateau by the D988 to Bozouls then the D920 to Espalion, then the D921.
En train, the nearest train station is Rodez.
You can also take the bus from Rodez to get to Laguiole. Or choose the plane. From the airports of Clermont-Ferrand, Aurillac, Montpellier or Rodez, you will be less than 3 hours from the Aubrac plateau.
When is the best time to visit the Aubrac plateau?
Aubrac has the particularity of having a different face in all seasons. In spring, the verdant plateau is dotted with multicolored flowers : bright yellow broom, immaculate white narcissus, serrated daffodils and dazzling orchids. The summer, the Aubrac cows are the stars of the country. In summer in the pastures, they are everywhere at home. In autumn, Aubrac is transformed. THE trees are adorned with dazzling colors and the tray becomes more mysterious. In winter, the striking cold makes it seem more savage Again. The SNOW can cover pastures with its white coat for several weeks. The Aubrac plateau is magical in all seasons.
What to do on the Aubrac plateau?
Aubrac offers a multitude of activity ideas. You can leave in wilderness and practice the hiking on foot, by mountain bike, by bike or on horseback to discover the unique landscapes of Aubrac at your own pace. Numerous sport events are organized on the territory, in order to combine self-transcendence and festivity.
The mountain range is also an economically and artisanally active region. You will be able to visit to the women and men who bring the region to life in the artisan workshops, cutlery, cheese cooperatives, farms or hydroelectric dams.
Aubrac is also many traditions and customs, which you can discover by taking part in events such as the Transhumance and the Davalada of the Aubrac cows, the Traces of Laguiole AOP cheese in the burons or the Fat Easter Ox.
Le gastronomic heritage is also very rich in our region. You can't fully appreciate it without tasting our local specialties, such as the iconic Aligot, farçous or fouace, prepared by our talented chefs.
