Aveyron (; oc, Avairon; ) is a department in the

region In geography, regions, otherwise referred to as zones, lands or territories, are areas that are broadly divided by physical characteristics ( physical geography), human impact characteristics ( human geography), and the interaction of humanity an ...

Occitania Occitania ( oc, Occitània , , or ) is the historical region in Western and Southern Europe where the Occitan language was historically spoken and where it is sometimes still used as a second language. This cultural area roughly encompasse ...

, Southern France. It was named after the river

Aveyron Aveyron (; oc, Avairon; ) is a department in the region of Occitania, Southern France. It was named after the river Aveyron. Its inhabitants are known as ''Aveyronnais'' (masculine) or ''Aveyronnaises'' (feminine) in French. The inhabitants ...

. Its inhabitants are known as ''Aveyronnais'' (masculine) or ''Aveyronnaises'' (feminine) in French. The inhabitants of Aveyron's prefecture, Rodez, are called ''Ruthénois'', based upon the first Celtic settlers in the area, the

Ruteni The Ruteni were a Gallic tribe dwelling in the southern part of the Massif Central, around present-day Rodez, during the Iron Age and the Roman period. Name They are mentioned as ''Rutenos'' by Caesar (mid-1st c. BC), ''R̔outēnoì'' (Ῥου ...

. With an area of and a population of 279,595, Aveyron is a largely rural department with a population density of 32 per square kilometer (83/sq mi).

History

Aveyron is one of the original 83 departments created during the

French Revolution The French Revolution ( ) was a period of radical political and societal change in France that began with the Estates General of 1789 and ended with the formation of the French Consulate in coup of 18 Brumaire, November 1799. Many of its ...

on 4 March 1790. The first known historical inhabitants of the region were the

Rutenii The Ruteni were a Gallic tribe dwelling in the southern part of the Massif Central, around present-day Rodez, during the Iron Age and the Roman period. Name They are mentioned as ''Rutenos'' by Caesar (mid-1st c. BC), ''R̔outēnoì'' (Ῥο ...

tribe, but the area was inhabited previously to this, boasting many prehistoric ruins including over 1,000 dolmens, more than any other department in France. Victor of Aveyron, 1800

During the medieval and early modern periods, and until the 1790s, the territory covered by Aveyron was a

province A province is almost always an administrative division within a country or state. The term derives from the ancient Roman '' provincia'', which was the major territorial and administrative unit of the Roman Empire's territorial possessions ou ...

known as

Rouergue Rouergue (; ) is a former province of France, corresponding roughly with the modern department of Aveyron. Its historical capital is Rodez. It is bounded on the north by Auvergne, on the south and southwest by Languedoc, on the east by Gévaudan ...

. In 1797,

Victor of Aveyron Victor of Aveyron (; c. 1788 – 1828) was a French feral child who was found at the age of around 9. Not only is he considered the most famous feral child, but his case is also the most documented case of a feral child. Upon his discovery, he wa ...

feral child A feral child (also called wild child) is a young individual who has lived isolated from human contact from a very young age, with little or no experience of human care, social behavior, or language. The term is used to refer to children who h ...

) was found wandering the woods in the area. The story of Victor is told in the film ''

The Wild Child ''The Wild Child'' (french: L'Enfant sauvage, released in the United Kingdom as ''The Wild Boy'') is a 1970 French film by director François Truffaut. Featuring Jean-Pierre Cargol, François Truffaut, Françoise Seigner and Jean Dasté, it ...

''.

Heraldry

Geography

Aveyron is the centre of a triangle formed by the cities of

Toulouse Toulouse ( , ; oc, Tolosa ) is the prefecture of the French department of Haute-Garonne and of the larger region of Occitania. The city is on the banks of the River Garonne, from the Mediterranean Sea, from the Atlantic Ocean and from Pa ...

Clermont-Ferrand Clermont-Ferrand (, ; ; oc, label=Auvergnat, Clarmont-Ferrand or Clharmou ; la, Augustonemetum) is a city and commune of France, in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, with a population of 146,734 (2018). Its metropolitan area (''aire d'attract ...

, and Montpellier. The department approximately follows the outline of the former province of

. It is the 5th largest department in metropolitan France in terms of area (). Its prefecture is Rodez. The department comes under the jurisdiction of the Academy of Toulouse and the Montpellier Court of Appeal. The INSEE and Post Code is 12. Aveyron is located in the south of the

Massif Central The (; oc, Massís Central, ; literally ''"Central Massif"'') is a highland region in south-central France, consisting of mountains and plateaus. It covers about 15% of mainland France. Subject to volcanism that has subsided in the last 10,0 ...

. The highest point in the department is the summit of ''Le Signal de Mailhebiau'' at 1469m on the Plateau of

Aubrac Aubrac is a small village in the southern Massif Central of France. The name is also applied to the surrounding countryside, which is properly called L'Aubrac in French. The Aubrac region has been a member of the Natura 2000 network since August 20 ...

. The Aveyron department is divided into several natural regions such as the Grand Causses and Rougiers. Aveyron department consists of an ancient high rocky plateau of great geological diversity. The

Truyère The Truyère () is a river in south-western France, right tributary of the Lot. Its source is in the south-western Massif Central, north of Mende. It flows generally west through the following ''départements'' and towns: * Lozère: Le Malzieu ...

, Lot,

, and Tarn rivers have carved a number of deep gorges. The department is surrounded by those of Tarn,

Tarn-et-Garonne Tarn-et-Garonne (; oc, Tarn e Garona ) is a department in the Occitania region in Southern France. It is traversed by the rivers Tarn and Garonne, from which it takes its name. The area was originally part of the former provinces of Quercy and ...

, Lot,

Hérault Hérault (; oc, Erau, ) is a department of the region of Occitania, Southern France. Named after the Hérault River, its prefecture is Montpellier. It had a population of 1,175,623 in 2019.Gard,

Lozère Lozère (; oc, Losera ) is a landlocked department in the region of Occitanie in Southern France, located near the Massif Central, bounded to the northeast by Haute-Loire, to the east by Ardèche, to the south by Gard, to the west by Aveyron, ...

and

Cantal Cantal (; oc, Cantal or ) is a department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of France, with its prefecture in Aurillac. Its other principal towns are Saint-Flour (the episcopal see) and Mauriac; its residents are known as Cantalians (fren ...

. The

Lac de Villefranche-de-Panat Lac de Villefranche-de-Panat () is a lake in Aveyron, France. At an elevation of 727 m, its surface area is 1.92 km². It lies in the communes of Villefranche-de-Panat and Alrance. Description The Lac de Villefranche-de-Panat is part of an e ...

is used as a reservoir to provide drinking water supplies for the region.

Climate

Demography

In 2017, the department had 279,206 inhabitants. The evolution of the number of inhabitants is known through the population censuses conducted in the department since 1793.

Principal towns

The most populous commune is Rodez, the prefecture. Of the department's population, 25% live in the four largest communes: Rodez, Millau,

Onet-le-Château Onet-le-Château (; oc, Ònes) is a commune in the Aveyron department in southern France. Population See also *Communes of the Aveyron department The following is a list of the 285 Communes of France, communes of the Aveyron Departments o ...

, and

Villefranche-de-Rouergue Villefranche-de-Rouergue (; oc, Vilafranca de Roergue ) is a commune in the Aveyron department in southern France. Villefranche-de-Rouergue station has rail connections to Toulouse, Figeac and Aurillac. History At the end of the Albigens ...

. As of 2019, there are 7 communes with more than 5,000 inhabitants:Populations légales 2019: 12 Aveyron
INSEE

Second homes

As of 2019, 17.4% of available housing in the department were second homes.

Politics

Departmental Council

The Department Council of Aveyron has 46 seats. The President of the Departmental Council has been Jean-François Galliard of the

Union of Democrats and Independents The Union of Democrats and Independents (french: Union des démocrates et indépendants, UDI) is a centre to centre-right political party in France and former electoral alliance founded on 18 September 2012 on the basis of the parliamentary grou ...

(UDI) from 2017 to 2021. The President has been Arnaud Viala since 2021.

Members of the National Assembly

Following the 2017 legislative election, Aveyron elected the following representatives to the

National Assembly In politics, a national assembly is either a unicameral legislature, the lower house of a bicameral legislature, or both houses of a bicameral legislature together. In the English language it generally means "an assembly composed of the rep ...

Culture

Regional sub-dialect

The regional sub-dialect spoken in Aveyron is a form of

Languedoc The Province of Languedoc (; , ; oc, Lengadòc ) is a former province of France. Most of its territory is now contained in the modern-day region of Occitanie in Southern France. Its capital city was Toulouse. It had an area of approximately ...

Occitan Occitan may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to the Occitania territory in parts of France, Italy, Monaco and Spain. * Something of, from, or related to the Occitania administrative region of France. * Occitan language, spoken in parts o ...

called ''Rouergat''. Faced with the risk of disappearance of the language several associations asked the State and political communities for an ambitious language policy.Article in ''La Dépêche.fr'' on 24 October 2009
consulted on 29 December 2009 In Rouergat, ''Aveyron'' is written: *''Avairon'' (traditional Occitan spelling) – e.g. "Roergue forma lo despartament de l'Avairon" *Oboyróu (spelling of Father Vayssier) – e.g. "Rouergue fouórmo lou desportomén de l'Oboyróu"

Tourism

Aveyron contains a part of the Cévennes National Park. Tourist attractions include the castle of

Najac Najac () is a commune in the Aveyron department in southern France. Najac station has rail connections to Toulouse, Figeac and Aurillac. Najac village is set along a ridge above a bend in the river Aveyron. In the earlier part of the last ...

, a

medieval In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire ...

ruin perched high on a hill, and other castles and monasteries such as Conques Abbey, Sylvanès Abbey, Bonneval Abbey and

Loc-Dieu Abbey Loc-Dieu Abbey is a Cistercian abbey located near Martiel, 9 km west from Villefranche-de-Rouergue, in the department of Aveyron in France. History Founded in 1123 in a place formerly called ''Locus Diaboli'' (Latin for "devil's place") du ...

, located near Martiel in a region with many dolmens. The small city of Millau is the site of the world's tallest bridge, the

Millau viaduct The Millau Viaduct (french: Viaduc de Millau, ) is a multispan cable-stayed bridge completed in 2004 across the gorge valley of the Tarn near (west of) Millau in the Aveyron department in the Occitanie Region, in Southern France. The design t ...

, opened by President Chirac in December 2004. Activities include horseriding, fishing, swimming in the ''Lacs du Lévézou'' and hiking/camping. The inhabitants are also very good craftsmen, and Aveyron is full of various craft objects, handmade, that can be found locally. Examples include the '' couteau de Laguiole'', the world famous ''

Roquefort Roquefort is a sheep milk cheese from Southern France, and is one of the world's best known blue cheeses. Though similar cheeses are produced elsewhere, EU law dictates that only those cheeses aged in the natural Combalou caves of Roquefort-sur ...

'' cheese, from the village of the same name and other local produce. Markets take place every Saturday on market places around the region.

Saint-Sernin-sur-Rance Saint-Sernin-sur-Rance (, literally ''Saint-Sernin on Rance''; oc, Sent Sarnin) is a commune in the Aveyron department in southern France. Population Notable people * Victor of Aveyron, feral child, found in the commune on January 8, 180 ...

is the commune where the feral child

was found in the late 18th century. File:Rodez cathedrale.JPG, Rodez Cathedral File:Estaing - Ville -JPG1.jpg, Estaing File:Chateau de severac le chateau.jpg,

Sévérac-le-Château Sévérac-le-Château (; oc, label=Languedocien, Severac del Castèl) is a former commune in the Aveyron department in southern France. On 1 January 2016, it was merged into the new commune of Sévérac-d'Aveyron. The Château de Sévérac ...

File:Château de Peyrelade-2.JPG, Château de Peyrelade File:Château Najac.jpg,

Château de Najac Château de Najac or the royal fortress of Najac ( Languedocien: ''Castèl de Najac'') is located in Najac, in the Aveyron ''département'', in southern France. The castle was built in 1253 by the villagers on the orders of Alphonse de Poitiers, ...

File:Montpellier-le-Vieux Porte-de-Mycene.jpg, Chaos de Montpellier-le-Vieux

''Les Plus Beaux Villages de France''

Ten towns in Aveyron fall within the classification of a 1901 association ''

Les Plus Beaux Villages de France ''Les Plus Beaux Villages de France'' (meaning “the most beautiful villages of France”) is an independent association created in 1982 for the promotion of the tourist appeal of small rural villages with a rich cultural heritage. As of Septem ...

'': * Belcastel * Brousse-le-Château *

La Couvertoirade La Couvertoirade (; oc, La Cobertoirada) is a commune in the Aveyron department in southern France. Geography La Couvertoirade is located on the Larzac plateau. History and sites of interest This well-preserved fortified town was owned by t ...

* Conques * Estaing *

* Peyre * Saint-Côme-d'Olt * Sainte-Eulalie-d'Olt * Sauveterre-de-Rouergue.

Other tourist spots

* Roquecézière * Saint-Geniez-d'Olt *

* Bonneval Abbey * Coupiac * Aubrac Mountains *

Causse The Causses () are a group of limestone plateaus (700–1,200 m) in the Massif Central. They are bordered to the north-west by the Limousin and the Périgord uplands, and to the east by the Aubrac and the Cévennes. Large river gorges cut through ...

Larzac The Larzac, also known as the Causse of Larzac (French: ''Causse du Larzac''), is a limestone karst plateau in the south of the Massif Central, France, situated between Millau (in the département of l'Aveyron) and Lodève (in the départe ...

* Château de Sévérac * Bournazel * Baraqueville * Château de Calmont d'Olt * Rodez * Millau *Pons *Medieval villages in the Muse Valley: ** Castelnau-Pégayrols ** Saint-Beauzély ** Montjaux *

* Villeneuve *The ''Trou de Bozouls'' *The ''Tindoul de la Vayssière'' *Vale of Marcillac, Vineyards and towns: **

Marcillac-Vallon Marcillac-Vallon (; oc, Marcilhac) is a commune in the Aveyron department in southern France. Population See also *Communes of the Aveyron department The following is a list of the 285 Communes of France, communes of the Aveyron Depart ...

** Salles-la-Source ** Clairvaux-d'Aveyron ** Muret-le-Château *The Lakes of

Lévézou The Lévézou is a geographical region in the Aveyron department in southern France. It is an impervious crystalline plateau with an average altitude of around 900m. Its highest point is Mont Seigne (1 128 m). Though its borders are not strictly ...

Laguiole Laguiole (; ''La Guiòla'' in Languedocien) is a commune in the Aveyron department in southern France. It is known for its Laguiole cheese, which has an ''Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée'' (label of guaranteed origin), and as the birthpl ...

*The

Gorges du Tarn The Gorges du Tarn ( oc, Gòrjas de Tarn) is a canyon formed by the Tarn (river) between the Causse Méjean and the Causse de Sauveterre, in southern France. The canyon, mainly located in the Lozère ''département'', and partially in the Aveyro ...

Sainte-Eulalie-de-Cernon Sainte-Eulalie-de-Cernon (; oc, Senta Aulària de Sarnon) is a commune in the southern French department of Aveyron. At the heart of the historic settlement is the Commandery of Saint Eulalia, a hospital (in the medieval sense of the word) ...

* Salles-Curan and the

Lac de Pareloup Lac de Pareloup (; oc, link=no, Lac de Paralop; en, Pareloup Lake) is a lake in Aveyron, France. It lies on the Lévézou plateau, 25 km south east of Rodez. Description At an elevation of 805 m, its surface area is 12.6 km². The imp ...

* Salvagnac-Cajarc *

Roquefort-sur-Soulzon Roquefort-sur-Soulzon (; oc, Ròcafòrt, ) is a commune in the Aveyron department, in the region of Occitania Occitania ( oc, Occitània , , or ) is the historical region in Western and Southern Europe where the Occitan language was ...

, classed as a historic area with the "

Feral child A feral child (also called wild child) is a young individual who has lived isolated from human contact from a very young age, with little or no experience of human care, social behavior, or language. The term is used to refer to children who h ...

* Peyrusse-le-Roc *Grotto of Foissac *The Basin of Decazeville (

Decazeville Decazeville ( oc, La Sala) is a commune in the Aveyron department in the Occitanie region in southern France. The commune was created in the 19th century because of the Industrial Revolution and was named after the Duke of Decazes (1780–18 ...

, Aubin, Cransac,

Firmi Firmi (; oc, Firmin) is a commune in the Aveyron department in southern France. Population See also *Communes of the Aveyron department The following is a list of the 285 Communes of France, communes of the Aveyron Departments of France, ...

and

Viviez Viviez is a commune in the Aveyron department in the Occitanie region in southern France. Viviez-Decazeville station has rail connections to Brive-la-Gaillarde, Figeac and Rodez. Population See also *Communes of the Aveyron department ...

) with old

coal mines Coal mining is the process of extracting coal from the ground. Coal is valued for its energy content and since the 1880s has been widely used to generate electricity. Steel and cement industries use coal as a fuel for extraction of iron fro ...

Societies

*''Central Agricultural Society of Aveyron'', founded in 1798 *''Society of letters, sciences and arts of Aveyron'', founded in 1836

Notable people linked to the department

*Déodat Alaus, master mason of the 15th century, builder of the city ramparts of the

Templars , colors = White mantle with a red cross , colors_label = Attire , march = , mascot = Two knights riding a single horse , equipment ...

and

Hospitallers The Order of Knights of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem ( la, Ordo Fratrum Hospitalis Sancti Ioannis Hierosolymitani), commonly known as the Knights Hospitaller (), was a medieval and early modern Catholic Church, Catholic Military ord ...

city of

*Ambrose Crozot, painter, born in Rodez at the end of the 17th century *

Denis Auguste Affre Denis-Auguste Affre (27 September 179327 June 1848) was a French Catholic who served as Archbishop of Paris from 1840 to 1848. He was killed while trying to negotiate peace during the June Days uprising of 1848. His cause for canonization has co ...

, Archbishop of Paris (1793–1848) * Georges d'Armagnac,

Bishop of Avignon The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Avignon ( Latin: ''Archidioecesis Avenionensis''; French: ''Archidiocèse d'Avignon'') is an archdiocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church in France. The diocese exercises jurisdiction over the t ...

, cardinal and Bishop of Rodez (died in 1585) *Marie–Auguste de Balsac, high functionary *Louis Balsan, archaeologist, caver, one of the last great disciples of

Martel Martel may refer to: People * Andre Martel (1946–2016), American politician and businessman * Anne-Marie Martel (1644–1673), founder of what is now the Congrégation des Sœurs de l’Enfant-Jésus. * James B. Aguayo-Martel, ophthalmologist ...

(1903–1988) *Adolphe de Barrau, naturalist (1803–1884) *Hippolyte de Barrau, founder of the Society of Letters, scholar (1794–1863) *Justin Bessou, Occitan poet (1845–1918) *Adolphe Boisse, engineer and politician (1810–1896) *

Louis Gabriel Ambroise de Bonald Louis Gabriel Ambroise, Vicomte de Bonald (2 October 1754 – 23 November 1840) was a French counter-revolutionary philosopher and politician. He is mainly remembered for developing a theoretical framework from which French sociology would ...

, philosopher (1754–1840) * Louis-Jacques Maurice de Bonald, bishop (1787–1870) *

Émile Borel Félix Édouard Justin Émile Borel (; 7 January 1871 – 3 February 1956) was a French mathematician and politician. As a mathematician, he was known for his founding work in the areas of measure theory and probability. Biography Borel was ...

, mathematician (1871–1956) *

José Bové Joseph "José" Bové (born 11 June 1953) is a French farmer, politician and syndicalist, member of the alter-globalization movement, and spokesman for Via Campesina. He was one of the twelve official candidates in the 2007 French presidential elec ...

, anti-globalizationist, MEP since 2009, farmer, activist and former spokesman of French farmers union ''Confédération paysanne'', peasant in the cause of

(1953 -) *

Michel Bras Michel Bras (born 4 November 1946) is a French chef. His restaurant located in Laguiole in the Aveyron was rated three stars in the Guide Michelin since 1999. It is also classed in the "Relais & Châteaux" since 1992. He was classed several time ...

(1946 -), chef. *

Jean Carrier Benedict XIV was the name used by two closely related minor antipopes of the 15th century. The first, Bernard Garnier became antipope in 1424 and died c. 1429. The second, Jean Carrier, became antipope c. 1430 and apparently left office, whether ...

, clergyman of the 15th century, the last supporter and successor of the

Antipope Benedict XIII Pedro Martínez de Luna y Pérez de Gotor (25 November 1328 – 23 May 1423), known as in Spanish and Pope Luna in English, was an Aragonese nobleman who, as Benedict XIII, is considered an antipope (see Western Schism) by the Catholic Church ...

under the name of Benedict XIV * Edouard de Castelnau, General (1851–1944) *Marc Cenci, former president of the Regional Council of Midi-Pyrénées, former mayor of Rodez (1936 -) *Hippolyte Coste, botanist (1858–1924) *Jean-Louis Cromières, artisan farmer who "revived" the Laguiole knife *François d'Estaing, Bishop of Rodez (1501–1529) *François Fabié, poet (1846–1926) *

Jean-Henri Fabre Jean-Henri Casimir Fabre (21 December 1823 – 11 October 1915) was a French naturalist, entomologist, and author known for the lively style of his popular books on the lives of insects. Biography Fabre was born on 21 December 1823 in Saint-L ...

, French entomologist and writer (1823–1915) *

Robert Fabre Robert Fabre (21 December 1915 in Villefranche-de-Rouergue, Aveyron – 23 December 2006 in Villefranche-de-Rouergue, Aveyron) was a French politician and pharmacist. He was a founding member of the Left Radical Movement (MRG) in 1972 and ...

, founder of the Movement of Radicals of the left, Ombudsman (1915–2006) * Maurice Fenaille, patron (1855–1937) * Denis-Luc Frayssinous, bishop and tutor of the Dauphin *Antoine Bernardin Fualdes, prosecutor, assassinated (1761–1817) * Gustave Garrigou, winner of the

Tour de France The Tour de France () is an annual men's multiple-stage bicycle race primarily held in France, while also occasionally passing through nearby countries. Like the other Grand Tours (the Giro d'Italia and the Vuelta a España), it consists ...

in 1911, born in Vabre-Tizac * Alexandre Geniez, racing cyclist *Charles Girou de Buzareingues, agronomist and philosopher *Jacques d'Izarn Valady, officer, deputy, shot (1766–1793) *

Guy Lacombe Guy Hubert Georges Lacombe (born 12 June 1955) is a French manager (association football), football manager and former professional football player, player. Playing career Lacombe was a member of the French squad that won the gold medal at the ...

, football coach (1955–) *Amédée-Jean-Baptiste Latieule,

Bishop of Vannes The Roman Catholic Diocese of Vannes (Latin: ''Dioecesis Venetensis''; French: ''Diocèse de Vannes'') is a diocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church in France. Erected in the 5th century, the Episcopal see is Vannes Cathedral in ...

(1838–1903) *Jean-Claude Luche, Chairman of the General Council of Aveyron *

Cardinal Marty Cardinal or The Cardinal may refer to: Animals * Cardinal (bird) or Cardinalidae, a family of North and South American birds **''Cardinalis'', genus of cardinal in the family Cardinalidae **'' Cardinalis cardinalis'', or northern cardinal, th ...

, Archbishop of Paris (1904–1994) * Amans-Alexis Monteil, historian (1769–1850) *Antoine de Morlhon, bishop (1753–1828) *Auguste de Morlhon, bishop (1799–1862) *

Alain Peyrefitte Alain Peyrefitte (; 26 August 1925 – 27 November 1999) was a French scholar and politician. He was a confidant of Charles de Gaulle and had a long career in public service, serving as a diplomat in Germany and Poland. Peyrefitte is remembered ...

, writer, minister, member of the Académie française (1925–1999) *

Pierre Poujade Pierre Poujade (; 1 December 1920 – 27 August 2003) was a French populist politician after whom the Poujadist movement was named. Biography Pierre Poujade was born in Saint-Céré (Le Lot), France, and studied at Collège Saint-Eugène d'Aur ...

, politician, was born and lived in Labastide l'Evêque *

Denys Puech Denys Puech (3 December 1854, Gavernac, Bozouls, Aveyron – December 1942, Rodez, Aveyron) was a French sculptor. Biography From a family of farmers (his brother was Louis Puech, Député for the Seine Department from 1898 to 1932, and Mini ...

, sculptor, director of the Villa Medicis (1854–1942) *

Jean Puech Jean Puech (born 22 February 1942, in Viviez) is a French politician. He was first a member of the Republican Party before joining the Union for a Popular Movement. Between 1980 and 1993 and again between 1996 and 2008, he was a Senator ...

, former President of the General Council of Aveyron, Senator, and former minister (1942 -) *Jacques Puel, Ruthénois physician specializing in cardiothoracic surgery (1949–2008) * Guillaume-Thomas Raynal, historian, philosopher (1713–1796) * Emilie de Rodat, founder of the congregation of the

Sisters of the Holy Family of Villefranche The Sisters of the Holy Family of Villefranche (French: ''Sœurs de la Sainte-Famille de Villefranche''; Latin: ''Congregatio Sororum a Sacra Familia''; abbreviation: ''S.F.''), also called the Sisters of Villefranche, is a religious institute of ...

(1787–1852) *

Richard Sainct Richard Sainct (14 April 1970 – 29 September 2004) was a French rally raid motorcycle rider, best known for his three victories on The Paris-Dakar rally in 1999, 2000 and 2003. Biography His other notable achievements include winning the Tunis ...

, motorcycle rider (1970–2004) *

Pierre Frédéric Sarrus Pierre Frédéric Sarrus (; 10 March 1798, Saint-Affrique – 20 November 1861) was a French mathematician. Sarrus was a professor at the University of Strasbourg, France (1826–1856) and a member of the French Academy of Sciences in Paris (18 ...

, mathematician (1798–1861) *

Pierre Soulages Pierre Jean Louis Germain Soulages (; 24 December 1919 – 26 October 2022) was a French painter, printmaker, and sculptor. In 2014, President François Hollande of France described him as "the world's greatest living artist." His works are hel ...

, painter (1919–2022) * Jean Verdier, Cardinal Archbishop of Paris (1864–1940) * Eugène Viala, painter, poet (1859–1913) * Auguste Denayrouze, Scientist, Inventor, writer (1837–1883) * Gaëtan Roussel, songwriter (1972–) *Father Aimé Vayssier, ecclesiastical bachelor of letters, author of the ''French patois dictionary of the department of Aveyron'' (1821–1875) *Dom Pierre Guérin, ecclesiastic from Nantes, Rouergat poet (1608–1698) *

Jules Merviel Jules Merviel ( Saint-Beauzély, 29 September 1906 — Toulon, 1 September 1976) was a French professional road bicycle racer. Merviel won a stage in the 1930 Tour de France. In the 1935 Tour de France, he hit the back of a truck and did not rac ...

, cyclist active in the 1930s, born in Saint-Beauzély (1906–1976) * Bertrand Delanoe, French politician and Mayor of Paris (1950–) *

Cyril Lignac Cyril Lignac (born 5 November 1977 in Rodez, Aveyron) is a French chef. He is owner and chef of the gourmet restaurant ''Le Quinzième'' (1 Michelin star), also of ''Le Chardenoux'', a Parisian bistro located in the 11th arrondissement of Paris ...

, French chef and TV host * Jean Boudou, Occitan writer born in Crespin (home of Joan Bodon) *

Bernard Laporte Bernard Laporte (born 1 July 1964) is a rugby player, coach and former French Secretary of State for Sport. From 1999 to 2007, Laporte was the head coach of the France national team. In 2011, he became the head coach at Toulon, after Philippe Sa ...

, rugby coach (1964–) * Francis Poulenc, Composer (1899–1963)

Bibliography

*Encyclopedia Bonneton, ''Aveyron'', Christine Bonneton, 2005 *Jean-Michel Cosson, ''Dictionary of Aveyron'', Loubatières, *Daniel Crozes, ''The Guide to Aveyron'', Éditions du Rouergue, *Aue/Miche, ''Aveyron (Discovered)'', MSM, *Dominique Auzias, Jean-Paul Labourdette, ''The small clever Aveyron'', Collectif, Nouvelles Éditions Université, *Paul Astruc, ''Major Criminal cases of Aveyron'', Éditions De Borée, *Christian Bernard, ''Aveyron in flowers: Illustrated inventory of vascular plants of Aveyron department'', Éditions du Rouergue, *Francine Claustres, ''Aveyron Cuisine'', Sud Ouest, *''Aveyron: Farming Yields'', Du Curieux, *French Hiking Federation, ''Aveyron on foot'', Guide FFRP, *French Hiking Federation, ''The most beautiful villages in Aveyron… on foot: 20 walks and hikes'', FFRP, *Hubert Calmette, ''The paths of Émilie in Aveyron'', French Hiking Federation, *Richard André, Romain Pages Éditions, ''Le Parc naturel régional des Grands Causses'', *Rémi Soulié, ''The old Rouergue: Land of Aveyron'', Paris, *Alain Marc, ''Aveyron, Logbooks'', Éditions du Rouergue, *Laurent Millet, ''Family names of Aveyron'', Archives Cult, *Laurent Barthe, ''Of Rouergue in Aveyron'', Empreinte, *''Aveyron 1900–1920'' Édition De Boree, *Jean-Michel Cosson, Stéphane Monnet, ''Aveyron in the 1939–1945 war'', Éditions De Boré, *Jill Dawson, Béatrice Dunner, ''The wild child of Aveyron'', Du Rocher, *Jean Itard, ''Victor de l'Aveyron'', Allia, *Dagonet/Christian, ''Regards to Aveyron'', De Borée, *Nicole de Bertier, ''Meeting in Aveyron'', '' Equinoxe,

References

External links

Prefecture website

Departmental council of Aveyron's website

Aveyron's bulletin board
* {{Authority control Massif Central 1790 establishments in France Departments of Occitania (administrative region) States and territories established in 1790