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Rodez
Rodez is the prefecture (principle town) of the Aveyron. Perched on a hill, at the foot of which flows the Aveyron, the town marks the meeting point of the Valleys of the Ségala and the Chalky Causse plateaux. The Romans, who constructed the city of Segodunum on this site, noticed its strategic position. From then onwards, travellers and merchants stopped here, and the town grew.
In the middle ages, there was a dispute between the counts and the bishop of Rodez. The town found itself divided in two, a market town for the counts, and a city for the bishops. This arbitrary division can be seen today in the two separate squares, the Place de la Bourg, and the Place de la Cité.
From the 16th century onwards, Rodez ran into hard times, with bad attacks from the plague. Unsuccessful harvests, and the scourge, gave Rodez a sorry image, which it found hard to get rid of.
The town came out of its lethargy in 1960, when new buildings shot up all over the town, surrounding the old centre.
The Notre-Dame cathedral was built in the heart of the old town, and vaguely resembles a northern church, in red sandstone. Building began in the 13th century, and took three centuries to complete. The result is quite coherent despite this. The façade, which looks somewhat like a castle, was originally part of the ramparts. The stone in the 87m bell tower is superbly crafted in the gothic style. The interior is sober, with beautiful stalls with wooden seats reserved for the clergy. They are intricately carved.
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In front of the southern door of the church is a colonial style house from the 15th century, the Molinier Hotel. If from there you follow la rue Cussel, you’ll have a real feel for medieval Rodez. You’ll find yourself opposite the prefecture, which is in an 18th century house. Worthy a look also is the Denys-Puech museum in the Place Clemenceau, with a range of works from the better known Aveyron artists (Denys Puech and Eugene Viala)
Information: +33 (0) 5 65 42 70 64
Tourist Office: +33 (0) 5 65 68 02 27
CARTES
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