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LOCATION:
SAINT-AFFRIQUE, 8000 inhabitants, in south central
France, in the Southern part of the department
of Aveyron, in the Midi Pyrenee Region.
There, in the heart of the Regional Natural Park
(Parc Naturel Régional des Grands Causses),
lies Roquefort country where the famous cheese
is refined. Close by, within 13 km of the caves,
we find Saint Affrique snuggled up against the
Causse of the Larzac between three trout rivers:
the Sorgues, the Cernon, and the Dourdou.
GEOGRAPHY:
Nature has modeled a very diversified and marked
countryside: trout rivers, Tarn valleys, low-volume
dams, vast lunar spaces in the Causse of the Larzac
or "rougier" of the Caramaresien bauxite... all
as much a change of scenery as a place to relax,
as well as a place for hiking activities.
ECONOMY:
Here, there's only one economy, the Roquefort
tradition, for which the raising of sheep and
the agriculture which goes along with it vibrates
within the deep niches of the region in a remarkably
sunny climate with its Mediterranean influence.
SITES:
The dolmens and prehistoric menhir statues, the
Templiers sites and Hospitals (St-Jean of Alcas,
Sainte Eulalie of Cernon, the Viala of Pas de
Jaux, the Cavalery, the Couvertoirade) the Roman
churches (Abbey of Sylvanes), the chateaux and
medieval villages (Montaigut, St-Izaire, Brousse
le Château, Latour on the Sorgues, Coupiac)
and the Gothic bridges are the reflection of the
exceptionally rich heritage history has given
us.
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