Tour of the Lévézou Lakes (Aveyron)

Starting from Pont-de-Salars, a powerful barony of Landorre in medieval times, the trail leads to Prades-Salars and its protected wetlands, a true haven for exceptional bird biodiversity. Reaching Salles-Curan, hikers discover a rich medieval heritage with the collegiate church and the castle of the bishops of Rodez, testaments to the town's past power. The route then skirts the vast Lake Pareloup before descending towards Villefranche-de-Panat and its verdant valley. The return journey takes you through Salmiech, a former seigniorial fiefdom, then Arvieu, a village committed to ecological transition and proud of its rural roots. Between beech forests and high-altitude pastures, the wild nature of the Lévézou plateau is expressed through sweeping views of the Aubrac and Cantal mountains.

Located in the heart of the Aveyron region, the Lévézou plateau is a transitional land between the granite mountains and the limestone plateaus. Once a territory of transhumance and wild moors, this high plateau was transformed in the mid-20th century with the creation of vast artificial lakes for hydroelectric power. The lakes of Pareloup, Pont-de-Salars, and Villefranche-de-Panat now form a veritable "inland sea" at an altitude of 800 meters, offering unique landscapes where blue water is surrounded by verdant meadows. The local heritage is revealed through charming villages such as Salles-Curan and the medieval town of Castelnau-Pégayrols, whose Romanesque churches and ramparts overlook the Tarn Valley. Nature is bountiful here, sheltering a rich birdlife around the wetlands and beech forests.

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Distance: 103km, Elevation maximum: 1004m, Elevation minimum: 588m, Elevation gain uphill: 2233m
IGN Maps: 2439SB - RODEZ / LAISSAC. 2440SB - SALLES-CURAN / LAC DE PRALOUP / CASSAGNE / BEGHONES. 2441SB - REQUISTA / VILLEFRANCHE-DE-PANAT.