The magnificent Tarn valley lies in south west France in the department of Aveyron. A department blessed with breathtaking sites from spectacular natural wonders to the worlds-record breaking bridge. Welcome to the Aveyron, maybe unheard of but with a unique and diverse personality. This is one of the many French departments which stays deep in the heart of those who stumble across it. And you really do stumble upon this corner of France as up until around a year ago it had remained unheard of.

Aveyron is blessed with many mighty rivers including the Lot and the river Tarn. Taking its name from one of the departments through which it flows, the river Tarn began its life south of the Massif Central more accurately south of Mont Lozere. From here it travelled south-westwards carving out what is now a world famous site “the Gorges du Tarn”. Having sliced it way into the Aveyron department creating the deep ravines and canyons it travelled west through the town of Millau from where it changes its identity and gently meanders its way towards Albi leaving a beautifully serene landscape in its path. This area beyond Millau to where the river crosses the border of the two departments (Tarn to the west and the Aveyron to the east) is known as the “Raspes du Tarn”. It is an area which doesn’t even exist in many of the French guide books – just right for those looking to escape the well-used tourist trail. Generously sprinkled with picturesque villages creating a real feast for the eyes this corner of France has remained well hidden and offers a real flavour of outhern France. Yes, there ARE still many parts of France that remain untouched.

This part of the Aveyron also falls within the « Parc Naturel Regional des Grands Causses » which is one of the largest regional parks in France. There are 45 in France in total.

From Millau to Brousse le Chateau

Millau is the capital of the south of Aveyron and is now a world famous site due to the Millau Viaduct designed by Sir Norman Foster. The bridge opened up in December 2004 connecting the north of France to the south via the A75 making it now the cheapest and most direct route to the south and to Spain. The viaduct itself graciously perches upon the Tarn valley in harmony with its surroundings creating the perfect marriage between breathtaking natural beauty and great modern achievements.

Moving on from Millau following the river Tarn you come across the village “Peyre”. This is village is one of the most beautiful villages in France. (Aveyron boasts 10 out of 149 of these classified villages which is more than any other department throughout France.) This is a very unique site. The village is bewilderingly carved into the rock however you can’t help but wonder whether the rock or the village came first. Fortified in the 17th century and recently renovated is its Romanesque troglodyte church. Its many stone alleyways or (“rue caladée” in french) bordered by stone houses add to its charm with the final touch being the stunning view of the viaduct and its Tarn valley.

Winding your way down you will find the medieval village of St Rome de Tarn with its 670 inhabitants and a Mediterranean micro-climate favouring the growth of vines. Wine production used to be the principal resource of the village. One can still see its history with its many vaulted cellars. It is also famous for its renaissance architecture and infamous religious wars between the protestants and Catholics during the 16th century. St Rome de Tarn has great access to the river Tarn where one can hire a canoe or kayak – an exhilarating way to enjoy the river and its scenery. It is said that the river Tarn is one of the most beautiful rivers in France to navigate.

Right in the heart of the “raspes” you will find Le Truel which also boasts its very own micro-climate. The villages itself has many half-timbered houses and also has a hydro-electric dam which is open to visitors.
8km further on is Broquies a village “fleuri”. A village which has won numerous awards both departmental and regional for its floral decorations. Flowers aside the village is also visited for its flamboyant gothic style church dating back to the 17th century. Another good base for canoeing and kayaking.

We end our journey as it began with another village classified in the list as “one of the most beautiful villages of France”. It is Brousse le Chateau dominated by its fortified castle and dating back to the 9th-12th centuries. It is a truly exceptional site with its medieval bridge of Romanesque style, church and oratory.

Property Market

Like the entire department Aveyron this part of the south Aveyron is also rich with authentic stone-built properties. You can find properties to renovate for as little as 11,000 euros to beautifully renovated farmhouses still offering great value for money. The reason why property has such good value is that the area is still unknown and less popular than other areas of France and hence property prices have remained low.

Here is a selection of what you can get for your money in the area.

This stone property has already been completely renovated and is situated not far from Le Truel. It includes a 40m2 living room, 18m2 kitchen, 2 bedrooms, a mezzanine, exposed beams and an authentic stone sink. Priced at 122 000 euros this makes the perfect holiday home.

Close to the beautiful village of Brousse le Chateau this charming farmhouse complex is only 145 000 euros. The property consists of a large cellar, a barn with a bread oven, 2 bedrooms with the possibility of converting the attic space. It is set upon 1500 m² of garden.

Near the village of Broquies is this wonderfully charming property situated upon its own 3000m2 land. It has retained many original features with its exposed beams and original wooden flooring. It includes 3 cellars for all that local wine, a 60 m² kitchen and dining area, 2 bedrooms and a barn which could be converted to provide further living space.

Not bad for 160 000 euros.

In a peaceful hamlet towards St Rome de Tarn you will find this stone property for 250,000 euros which only requires a bit of decoration. It has a wonderful view upon the valley and is in a very serene environment. It has 4 bedrooms, a large open kitchen and living room and sits upon 3300m2 land.

For a mere 286 000 euros you will find this very pretty home on the heights of the valley. Certainly one for nature lovers as it is set in the heart of the forest. Includes a large vaulted cellar, 30 m² equipped kitchen, 30 m² living room, 4 bedrooms and two further rooms that can be converted. Comes with 3500 m² of land.

It also possible to purchase an entire hamlet in this part of France for a snip at 620 000 euros. The hamlet is set upon its own 2 hectares of land and includes a main house which has been renovated with a lot of taste with 5 bedrooms, a dressing room and a 76 m² living room. The hamlet has six houses in total and also some barns to be renovated. This would be a great purchase for someone with a particular project in mind for example gites or a holiday complex.

Since the opening of the viaduct prices have risen slightly and are set to rise further within the next few years as more and more people hear about the area. There is already a lot of interest in the south Aveyron from the French currently living on the coast who choose to move to areas with lower crime rates and of course a better quality of life.

Accessing the region

The Tarn Valley is located at only 113km from Montpellier from where there are a selection of international flights. Toulouse also has a major international airport which is located at around the same distance away. Rodez airport currently served by Ryan Air is within 1.5 hours from the Tarn valley.

Nav Vilain
Selection Habitat
+33 5 65 70 10 49
www.selectionhabitat.com
info@selectionhabitat.com