The centre of it all

The tiny 4 house hamlet of Pradines sits on a hillside above the Viaur River valley. Walking trails throughout the surrounding countryside offer unexpected views of Pradines.

principal tourism websites:

Midi-Pyrenees

Aveyron (click on the "virtual tour" button for video tours of Aveyron)

+++Day Trips and Shopping*

• Albi
  
• Belcastel
• Bruniquel
  
• Cordes-Sur-Ciel
  
• Cahuzac-Sur-Vere
  
• Carde la Viaur
  
• Gorges of the Aveyron
  
• Laguipie
  
• La Fouillade*
  
• Les Cabannes
  
• Najac
  
• Puycelci
  
• Penne
  
• Sauveterre de Rouergue
  
• St. Andre de Najac
  
• Villefranche de Rouergue*
  

Albi

A must! Information is available at the local and online Syndicate d'Initiative (French), located on the parking square in front of the cathedral. Also, check the green Michelin guide. Excellent shopping and dining. Market on Saturday (check day as they change)Banks are open Tuesday to Saturday. Train station
Ste. Cecile Cathedral is thirteenth century and is unusual in that it's built of brick. Wonderful interior - gothic carved stone screen. Don't miss the choir stalls and the painted wooden figures (a small charge to enter). 

The Palace of Berbie next to the cathedral houses a fine Toulouse-Lautrec collection. Don't miss the adjoining formal garden along the river behind the museum.

Belcastel

It made the list of "un des plus beaux villages de France", I'm not sure why it hasn't made our list before. A castle, cobblestone streets, artists' shops, at least one restaurant, an ancient stone bridge over the Aveyron river (hard to believe you can drive on it), and pic-nick tables on the grassy banks. A postcard place if ever there was one.

Bruniquel

Small but worth a visit. Travelling from Laguepie to Bruniquel through the Gorges of the Aveyron is very scenic. Chamber of commerce website.

  

Cordes Sur Ciel

Very historic and well restored. Built by the Count of Toulouse. Parking anytime, anywhere in Cordes is now quite costly!

Many craft shops. Excellent restaurants. The dining room in the hotel "La Grand Ecuyer" is very elegant and serves wonderful gourmet fare (expensive but worth the experience!). Reservations recommended.

La Maison de Grand Faucounier is of particular interest as an example of the medieval period. 

A very good outdoor market every Saturday morning (double-check the day). Market is very popular so it's crowded.  Bank hours change; was open Tuesday-Friday (closed for lunch) and Saturday morning.

Excellent antique shop located below the road leading down from Cordes (follow signs).
Excellent dentist (or there once was).

The official website has a nice slide show of the sights.