Aveyron is a department in southern France named after the Aveyron River. The first recognized chronological residents of the region were the Rutenii tribe, but the area was inhabited previously to this, boasting many prehistoric ruins. Aveyron enclose a part of the Cévennes National Park. Well-known tourist attractions are the castle of Najac, a medieval ruin perched high on a hill, and the many beautiful old monasteries such as Conques Abbey, Sylvanès Abbey, Bonneval Abbey and Loc-Dieu Abbey, located near Martiel in a region with many dolmens. In south, sheep control the economy, their milk is used for making Roquefort cheese which is matured in limestone caves , a interesting place to visit.

The Aveyron department is the most north-easterly of the departments within the Midi-Pyrenees region. It falls within the mountainous southern reaches of Massif Central region of central-southern France. In Aveyron to the west of the Aubrac area are quite a lot of particularly attractive villages. Tourist appeal amongst them is definitely Conques, with its abbey and portrait postcard setting; and Belcastel, the calm village in a lovely riverside location a little further south. The department is part of the current Midi-Pyrénées region.