Outdoor activities
Hiking tours
The department has no less than 1,250 km of long-distance footpaths and many more short-distance paths. There is not a village or a site that has not marked out its corner of nature so that you can approach its beauty during a day's walk. This is partly due to the location and configuration of the department: its geographical situation has placed it at the crossroads of paths throughout history and recent developments have preserved it.
Several long-distance footpaths
cross Aveyron, including a GR de pays.GR6, the Alps-Ocean route crosses the Aubrac, the Causses and the Rouergue, part of its route is common with the GR65 and GR62.
GR65, the way of Santiago de Compostela called Via Podensis, it comes from Puy, passes by Aubrac and joins the Lot valley by Conques then goes to Cahors.
GR62, which comes from the Aigoual and goes to Conques via the Causse noir, Millau and Rodez.
GR36, the tour of the Aveyron gorges via Villefranche-de-Rouergue.
GR71C, 100 km for a Templar Hospital circuit.
GR71D, the tour of Larzac.
GR620, a 170 km loop to discover the steeples and horizons of Rouergue.
GR de Pays, a 150 km circuit around the Aubrac mountains.
Of course, if the plateaus and valleys are excellent hiking grounds, one should not forget the forests, including those of the Causse du Larzac and the Causse Noir and the Aubrac forest. The latter offers in autumn the opportunity to go and listen to the bellowing of the stag.
Horse and donkey riding
More than 1,000 km of trails are available in Aveyron for nature and horse lovers. Some Aveyron farmers are also willing to share this passion. Several equestrian farms are spread out over the department and allow you to learn about horse riding, to go for walks or to do carriage driving activities... Various itineraries are proposed to criss-cross the territory. Here again, young and old alike can enjoy them to their heart's content. From free adventure to sporting adventure, all tastes will be satisfied during these great wild rides.
Cycling, bike touring and mountain biking
For those who prefer to go on a two-wheeled adventure, there are many paths accessible to mountain bikes and cycle touring. Several topo-guides allow a varied discovery of the Aveyron: for example the Larzac by bike or why not the tour of the lakes, more refreshing in summer, for those who would like to take a dip... All the guides are available from the departmental cycling committee in Millau.Hunting, fishing and nature
Fishing
The department is largely favoured by an important network of rivers and lakes. It is a renowned destination for carnivorous fish and white fish. The big rivers like the Lot, the Aveyron - downstream of Rodez -, the Tarn downstream of Millau allow to make memorable fishing. The big lakes of Lévézou - Pareloup (1 200 hectares), Pont-de-Salars, Villefranche-de-Panat -, those of North Aveyron - Sarrans (1 000 hectares), la Selve, to mention only the main ones, or the one of Castelnau-Lassout-Lous, one of the most famous in France for carp fishing - are famous for the record fish they contain. On the only lake of Pareloup, it is frequent to see pikes of more than one meter dry. On the carp side, the same possibilities are offered. Whether it is in a dam lake or on the river Lot, the specimens of more than 25 kilos are numerous and the bar of 30 kilos has been crossed many times.
Concerning new fishing, Aveyron is not in rest. You can fish for catfish on the lake of Castelnau-Lassout-Lous, for black-bass on the water of the mill of Bannac - near Villefranche-de-Rouergue -, for carp at night on nearly 400 km of banks opened to this technique. If the department is essentially turned towards the second category - carnivorous fish, carp, white fish - it does not remain less than many rivers with trout are present. This is the case on the Tarn and the Dourbie upstream of Millau - technical fishing - or on the rivers coming down from the Aubrac - boraldes.In the air
But what are all these multicolored dots in the sky of Millau? A crowd of privileged people who have decided to visit the region in a different way, from the sky. Millau is indeed a renowned site of free flight (paragliding, hang-gliding). All the conditions are met to practice this sport a good part of the year: a mild sky, several take-off sites, the possibility to fly locally or to go on a cross-country trip, various flying schools and... The countless resources of the region - notably sports - to distract oneself on days when one cannot fly. Millau favours this sector as much as possible, the take-offs and their access have been arranged and the town, which has already been the setting for several national competitions and large-scale gatherings.
Paragliding - hang gliding
Here is a quick description of three sites and their characteristics, to try to compete...
Brunas, south of the city : it is a bit of a favourite site for hang gliders and paragliders because the take off is also an excellent landing, the conditions are such that it is not rare to be able to come back there at the end of the flight - no more problems with the recovery ! The take off is done in north to north-west wind conditions. The goal: to reach the sea, in Sète, that is 90 km to cover. We can therefore go cross country on the Larzac or fly locally.
La Pouncho d'Agast : this is the end of the Causse Noir, which becomes a flying field in south, south-west and west winds. The three take-offs have been arranged, from there you can fly east to the Aigoual or north to Le Puy, one pilot even reached Saint-Etienne. The most : fly accompanied by vultures on the Causse noir and in the Jonte gorges.
The Puech d'Andan : the emergency solution, north of Millau. Pilots fall back on this take-off with a south-east wind, but it is less frequent than the other two, as is the alternative site of Novis (beware, however, that this site is not official!). Information from the departmental committee (aveyronvollibre.free.fr) or from the flight schools of Millau.
Winter sports
With the arrival of winter, the Aubrac plateau is covered with a fine powder. Snow is everywhere and easily attracts mountain sports enthusiasts. If the older ones remember the stormy days, the younger ones appreciate, as before, the spirit of mutual help that reigns on the plateau during these long winter months. It is then time to get out the skis or snowshoes. Two hundred kilometres of marked cross-country trails link Brameloup, Nasbinals, Aubrac, Saint-Urcize and Laguiole. As for downhill enthusiasts, two resorts welcome them every winter on the plateau.
Station of Laguiole (1 000 m - 1 400 m). The resort has several downhill runs and lifts; one of them is even lit at night, another is reserved for sledging. Cross-country skiing enthusiasts will find 60 km of trails for all levels, linked to the Espace Aubrac area. Walking trails are open to all in the forest.
Brameloup (1 200 m - 1 390 m). The resort is complete, its three downhill areas, in the heart of a 40-hectare forest, are dedicated to beginners and advanced skiers, divided between skiers and snowboarders, the slopes are served by several lifts. Cross-country skiing is practiced on the slopes.
Water sports
Sailing. Many Aveyronnais practice sailing thanks to the presence of several lakes. Windsurfing is also practised in Pareloup and Villefranche-de-Panat, which has the advantage of being a real air corridor ensuring maximum conditions for sailing.
Motorboating is possible on all the big lakes - Pareloup, Sarrans, Pont-de-Salars. It is possible to rent boats with or without a licence. A lake like Pareloup is really the ideal place to practice water-skiing. On the lakes of the south Aveyron - la Jourdanie, Pinet - it is rather the walk which is predominant with sumptuous landscapes.
Note that it is also possible to practice rowing on the Lot or in Pareloup where there are structures of reception and initiation. Many other smaller lakes offer possibilities for swimming, water games - pedal boats, toboggan etc. -There are many other smaller lakes offering swimming, water games, pedal boats, slides, etc., such as Privezac, Lac des Galens, Lac de Saint-Gervais, La Selves, Brasc. For visits by boat, the lakes of Pareloup lend themselves well to a discovery formula with the possibility of a meal on board, or in the south of the department, thanks to a trip aboard the Heron des Raspes, on the lake of Pinet.
For the youngest. Arvieu, Salle-Curan, Villefranche-de-Panat, Pont-de-Salars: on all these sailing bases of the Lévézou lakes, activities for children are organized, in particular initiation in optimist, catamaran and windsurf. Buoys and banana boats are also very fun.
White water sports
On the white water rivers, Lot on certain sectors - Vieillevie, the river Tarn or Dourbie - the possibilities of practising the canoe or the kayak are numerous. During the summer period there is no shortage of boat hire companies. On these rivers, the levels of difficulty range from class I - easy - to class III - difficult. On the Aveyron river from Compolibat to Villefranche-de-Rouergue: 20 km of class III are available for the most athletic. The Point Canoë Nature label identifies quality rental companies affiliated to the FFCK.
For the youngest. The rivers of the Lot and the Tarn lend themselves well to the discovery of canoeing and kayaking. In summer, these rivers are calm enough for initiation to take place without any problem.
