The best things to see and do in Rodez (South of France) in 1 day

It is true that the greatest attraction of a route through Aveyron, In the Midi-Pyrénées region, in the south of France is to discover charming pretty towns such as Conques, Najac o Belcastel, as I was able to see on the trip I had the opportunity to take not long ago.

However, it is worth including in your route a stage that involves the Rodez visit, capital of said department of Aveyron, whose main attraction is its Gothic cathedral, one of the largest in the South of France.

when you get to Rodez Don't expect to find a big city. As a fact, I will tell you that including the metropolitan area, it barely has 50.000 inhabitants.

This will make your visit much easier as it will be limited to a walk through the medieval historic center, which is perched on a rocky hill surrounded by the Aveyron river.

Curiosities of the history of Rodez

Of course, you should know that Rodez It was founded more than two thousand years ago by a Celtic people, the Ruthenians.

After the Roman occupation, the city was divided into two walled enclosures, the Burgo neighborhood, occupied by prosperous merchants, also known as the Counts Neighborhood, and the city, under the power of the archbishops, and at the foot of the cathedral that began to be built in the 13th century.

Later, after the Hundred Years War which extended during the 14th and 15th centuries, Rodez He unified the wall to have more protection. Finally the wall was practically destroyed at the end of the 18th century.

There is still a small section of it, but, above all, Rodez maintains the typical configuration of a small medieval town, with narrow streets that extend on the east side of the cathedral.

Precisely one of the curiosities of Rodez is that the theoretically main façade of the cathedral...does not have a door.

The Plaza de Armas, the main one in the city, you will see a façade that is a large stone wall, which is explained because that façade was part of the medieval wall.

What to see when visiting Rodez in Occitania

In your walk through Rodez You will see various palaces and some houses from the 15th and 16th centuries.

The houses of the old Burgo neighborhood They are made of wood but covered in stone.

In front of the north façade of the cathedral is one of the most notable buildings in Rodez, the Episcopal palace, from the 17th century, one of the few buildings in the city built with bricks.

Next to this palace you have a section of wall on which the Corbieres Tower, from the 20th century, one of the XNUMX towers that in its time had the rodez wall.

This tower became a prison during the French Revolution.

Between the historic buildings of Rodez I want to highlight the so-called canonical house, from the 15th century, located in front of the south façade of the cathedral, where the entrance portico is located.

This house is Gothic in style, and provided accommodation for canons.

The entrance portico is from the 15th century, and in the interior patio you can see a stoneware well from the same period, which is decorated with shells of Santiago, symbol of the pilgrims of the the Camino de SantiagoBecause Rodez In the Middle Ages it was located on one of the secondary roads.

For its part, the Benoit's house, from the 15th century, stands out for its interior patio with a Gothic style balustrade.

I also want to highlight the Armagnac house, XNUMXth century.

With mixtures of Gothic and Renaissance style, it belonged to a wealthy merchant and banker.

Finally, facing your Rodez visit I want to point out that since June the Soulages museum, dedicated to Pierre Soulages, a prestigious contemporary painter who was born in this city and for whom a modern building has been built.

Located next to the Foirail Garden, the museum displays more than 500 works, most of them donated by the artist himself.

Finally, a gastronomic suggestion.

In Rodez you find the restaurant Tastes and Colors, from the chef Jean-Luc Fau, with Michelin star since 2008, where you can enjoy a very special lunch or dinner.

Photos of Rodez in Occitania in the south of France

In anticipation of your visit to this medieval city, here is more photos of Rodez.

Map: how to get to Rodez