Estaing (; ) is a commune in the

Aveyron Aveyron (; ) is a Departments of France, department in the Regions of France, region of Occitania (administrative region), Occitania, Southern France. It was named after the river Aveyron (river), Aveyron. Its inhabitants are known as ''Aveyro ...

department in the Occitanie

region In geography, regions, otherwise referred to as areas, zones, lands or territories, are portions of the Earth's surface that are broadly divided by physical characteristics (physical geography), human impact characteristics (human geography), and ...

Southern France Southern France, also known as the south of France or colloquially in French as , is a geographical area consisting of the regions of France that border the Atlantic Ocean south of the Marais Poitevin,Louis Papy, ''Le midi atlantique'', Atlas e ...

. The

D'Estaing family The d'Estaing family was one of the most notable nobility, noble families of the Rouergue and Auvergne (province), Auvergne regions of France. They originated from Estaing, Aveyron, Estaing, in the modern Aveyron Departments of France, department ...

, first mentioned in writings in 1028, was one of the most powerful families of the

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 Géva ...

from the 13th to the 18th century, making the village known throughout France.

Geography

Located in the north of the Aveyron department, Estaing is considered one of the most picturesque villages in France. It one of the ten villages of Aveyron that are part of the

Les Plus Beaux Villages de 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 2024, it numbers 176 member villages (independent Communes of France, ''communes'' or part ...

association ("the most beautiful villages of France"). The village is very quiet during the winter months; it is in the summer that it shows the most signs of life. Lying at 320 metres above sea level, the winters are cool and the summers are hot and dry. The bridge over the river Lot in Estaing has been part of the

UNESCO The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO ) is a List of specialized agencies of the United Nations, specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) with the aim of promoting world peace and International secur ...

World Heritage Site World Heritage Sites are landmarks and areas with legal protection under an treaty, international treaty administered by UNESCO for having cultural, historical, or scientific significance. The sites are judged to contain "cultural and natural ...

of the Routes of Santiago de Compostela in France since the site's designation in 1998.

Espalion Espalion (; ) is a commune in the Aveyron department in southern France. Population Sights * Château de Calmont d'Olt *The Pont-Vieux (Old Bridge) is part of the World Heritage Sites of the Routes of Santiago de Compostela in France. *Ch ...

is a ten-minute drive away, while

Rodez Rodez (, , ; , ) is a small city and commune in the South of France, about 150 km northeast of Toulouse. It is the prefecture of the department of Aveyron, region of Occitania (formerly Midi-Pyrénées). Rodez is the seat of the communau ...

is about 50 minutes away.

Population

Personality

d'Estaing family The d'Estaing family was one of the most notable nobility, noble families of the Rouergue and Auvergne (province), Auvergne regions of France. They originated from Estaing, Aveyron, Estaing, in the modern Aveyron Departments of France, department ...

Urbain Hémard Urbain Hémard (c. 1548 in Entraygues, Rouergue – 14 October 1592 in Estaing, Rouergue) was a French physician and dentist. He wrote the first French work entirely devoted to dentistry. Biography He studied at the University of Montpellier ...

, doctor and dentist of the bishop

Georges d'Armagnac Georges d'Armagnac (c. 1501 – July 1585) was a French humanist, patron of arts, cardinal and diplomat deeply embroiled in the Italian Wars and in the French Wars of Religion. Biography He was born at Avignon, the son of Pierre d'Armagnac ...

, banished from

for having favoured the '' Ligueurs'' in 1589, came to find refuge in Estaing and died there on 14 October 1592.

References

{{authority control Communes of Aveyron Plus Beaux Villages de France World Heritage Sites in France Aveyron communes articles needing translation from French Wikipedia

Geography

Population

Personality

See also

References