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Located in the south of France, in the heart of the triangle formed by Toulouse, Clermont-Ferrand and Montpellier, in the western foothills of the Massif Central, the Rodez landscape is situated between the valleys and high plateaus of Grands Causses and the moist hills of Ségala.
- 16 January 1985
- 37.5 °C (99.5 °F)
- 1980
- −17.5 °C (0.5 °F)
- Rodez Cathedral
- Musée Fenaille
- Old Town
- Musée Soulages
- Episcopal Palace
- Maison d’Armagnac
- Musée Des Beaux-Arts Denys-Puech
- Église Saint-Amans
- Weekly Markets
- La Chasse Aux Monstres
Completely rebuilt in that pink sandstone in 1276, Rodez Cathedral is an awesome blend of Gothic finesse and military might famed for its 87-metre bell tower. Unlike almost any other church in the world, the western facade is completely closed off by a menacing sheer wall of stone, with nothing more than arrow loops until you reach the rose window ...
The Renaissance Hôtel de Jouéry is among the oldest and most elegant residences in the city, with mouldings and pilasters on its facade and a courtyard with gorgeous wooden galleries. It’s all a noble backdrop for a museum that maps out the history of the Rouergue, going back to the Neolithic period. The showpiece here is the Dame de Saint-Sernin, ...
Rodez’ Centre-Ville demands a closer look for its ancient street-plan and profusion of fine old houses. In the southern part of the old town, around the Place du Bourg, these residences belonged to merchants and nobility. While the quarter around the cathedral and episcopal palace further north was the Cité, reserved for the clergy. The roll-call o...
One of the most notable figures to come out of Rodez in recent times is the artist Pierre Soulange, identified by his predilection for the colour black. After a long construction this stylish museum was unveiled not far from the cathedral in 2014 at a ceremony attended by President Hollande. Since the project was announced more than a decade ago th...
A sight to admire from the outside, Rodez’ Episcopal Palace was one of the monuments that anchored the medieval city and is now the home of Aveyron’s General Council. This residence for the Bishop of Rodez originally joined with the cathedral and ramparts but had to be moved when the cathedral expanded in the 15th century. It had a turbulent time a...
Worthy of its own entry, the Maison d’Armagnac is one of the most photographed sights in Rodez and can be found on Place de l’Olmet. This glorious four-storey house was built between 1525 and 1531 by a rich local merchant. Take as long as you like to study the masterful stonework, with its corbels, pilasters and medallions representing Rodez’ nobil...
The local sculptor Denys Puech was very active during the French Third Republic (1870-1940), when he received many official commissions from the government. In 1903 he founded this museum, and its Art Nouveau building commands a sensational view over Rodez from the elevated part of the city. As well as Puech’s sculpture there are also permanent col...
Another proud sandstone edifice, this church near Place du Bourg originated in the 1100s, but started to fall apart in the 1600s. So it was closed down and rebuilt using the same stones in the Baroque style in the middle of the 18th century, while the Romanesque interior were left mostly unchanged. The 5th-century Saint Amans was Rodez’ first bisho...
Rodez’ two main squares, Place du Bourg and Place de la Cité burst into life on market days. There are two a week at the period setting of the Place du Bourg, on Wednesday and Saturday. At the midweek market you have around 60 traders selling regional produce and food like pizza and paella prepared on the spot. The big one though is the Saturday ma...
Medieval architecture can be a bit dry for the littler members of the family. But Rodez’ tourist office has come up with a way to get children involved. All around the old town are centuries-old carvings of strange and whimsical creatures, many of which are hidden high on buildings or burrowed in dark niches. So with the help of an expert guide and...
County town of the département, Rodez constitutes an ideal starting point for discovering the Aveyron. But before you leave to visit further a field, take a stroll around the pedestrianised streets and discover its rich past.
- Rue Louis Blanc-BP831, Rodez, 12008, Aveyron
- 05 65 75 40 12
With its fine gothic cathedral and a very attractive historic centre, Rodez is suddenly on the tourist map, since the opening of its stunning Soulages museum, honouring the most famous French artist of the last 50 years.
Visit Rodez (Occitanie, France) Photo Gallery Book hotels, flights, car hire. The quiet city of Rodez is the capital of the Aveyron department, and has more for tourists to see and do than you might expect at first glance... Explore Rodez.
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Jun 3, 2019 · Situated in the southwest corner of the mountainous Massif Central, Rodez comes as an unexpected delight. Located between the major cities of Clermont-Ferrand, Toulouse and Montpellier , Rodez is a bustling, lively town with a lovely old centre well worth exploring and a beautiful cathedral.