A Day Out In Sévérac-Le-Château and Millau

Isla - receptionist 2015

My boyfriend and I decided to visit the beautiful medieval town of Sévérac-le-Château, a town perched on a hillside and offering outstanding views across to the beautiful Gorges du Tarn (which we had visited earlier that morning) to the south.

• Viewpoint and drink at Compeyre

The small village of Compeyre is perched on a hillside just at the entrance to the Gorges du Tarn, and we stopped off here for a drink in the hot weather, and enjoyed breathtaking views across the gorges to the east. After stopping off here we took the 15 minute journey, largely on the A75 (toll-free), to Sévérac-Le-Château.

• Sévérac-Le-Château

After parking and wandering through the beautiful and winding medieval streets of the town, we visited a few of the artisanal shops and stopped for a picnic at the top of the hill just below the castle at the usefully located picnic benches, offering superb views over the town's rooftops. There are, however, equally many attractive restaurant options that we passed in the town.

The impressive views over the medieval town below

We then paid the entry fee for the castle (€3 without a guided tour), and we were impressed by the beautiful views the castle offers over the surrounding area. The tenth century castle includes a small exhibition, and there are also guided tours available, although unfortunately not in English. In July and August the guided tours are at 10.15am, 2.15pm and 4.15pm everyday apart from Wednesday. On Wednesdays, guided visits are at 10.30am, 2.30pm and 5.45pm.

• Tea and cake in Millau

We then headed to the nearby town in Millau (the second biggest in Aveyron after Rodez), where we stopped off for tea and cake after wandering through the beautiful old town centre. We ate at Cak-Thé, a salon de thé just in the centre of town that was recommended to me by a friend, and it certainly lived up to expectations. There is an incredibly extensive list of teas, as well as lovely homemade cakes and biscuits. There is also a great savoury menu, featuring entirely homemade, locally sourced dishes, with good vegan and vegetarian options as well, which is a rare find in Aveyron! 

• Visit the Viaduct Information Centre

The famous viaduct is unmissable if you are in the Millau area; this beautiful and impresive example of bridge architecture is a must-see, and the Espace Info is full of interesting information, but just stopping off nearby for a look and a few photos is impressive as well. Access to the Information Centre is free, and a guided visit of the exterior Jardin des Explorateurs costs €6 for an adult, €3.50 for children between the ages of 6 and 17, and is free for children under 6.