Prades-d'Aubrac connects the Lot Valley and Aubrac. The commune stretches from the banks of the Lot at an altitude of 350 m to the Aubrac plateau at over 1,300 m. A specific landmark is the Brameloup resort: it lies 11 km from Prades-d'Aubrac at an altitude of 1,300 m.
Choose hiking trails by duration and theme
Le Vieux chemin is a circular hiking trail starting in Prades-d'Aubrac, focused on history and heritage. It is 18.3 km long, with a stated duration of six hours. This gives the route a clearly defined time frame: it fits into the plan for a longer day of hiking, not a short detour.
Les sentiers de Dédé has a different focus. The themed trail passes through the Brameloup forest and the surrounding landscapes; information panels help visitors interpret the area. The start and finish are at the car park of the Brameloup resort in Prades-d'Aubrac. Another named circular route, “Les Cousteilles et ruiseau du Serre,” is one of the two hiking trails featured around Prades-d'Aubrac. When weighing up the routes described, you can consider the time required and historical theme of Le Vieux chemin, or the forest and information panels of Les sentiers de Dédé.
Brameloup in winter and summer
The Brameloup family resort was founded in 1965. In winter, it offers alpine skiing on 18 runs as well as cross-country skiing on 35 km of trails and a further 19 km of routes. In summer, mountain biking, fishing and horse riding are available there. Seasonal offerings may change; winter facilities and route lengths may also vary. Check the latest information before planning your visit.
Villages, churches and history
The privately owned Château de La Salle was one of the most important residences of the Doms of Aubrac. François d’Estaing was born there in 1460. The church in Born tells the story of another period in local history: it was built in 1847 in response to population growth, thanks in part to donations from residents.
The Église Saint-Laurent was rebuilt between 1540 and 1546. It is one of the few churches in Rouergue with hanging keystones and combines Gothic and Renaissance styles. In Lunet, the village is grouped around its church and former monastic buildings; its traditional architecture is characterised by slate and limestone. The Église Sainte-Marie-Madeleine there preserves a Romanesque portal with a triple rounded archivolt, as well as chapels with 15th-century Gothic vaults.
The layout of Les Crouzets and Ranq is also shaped by their position in relation to each other: Les Crouzets is divided into two parts; beyond it lies the small village of Ranq, leaning against a huge rock. At its summit stands the old l’Oradou cross.
A nature stop at the Lacessat waterfall
The Lacessat waterfall is located within the commune of Prades-d'Aubrac, in a shady, wooded setting. There is a small car park above the waterfall, from which it is a short walk to the water. The woodland surroundings are also ideal for a picnic. The short approach takes much less time than the six-hour circular Le Vieux chemin route. Local conditions may vary; check access before your visit.
Discover more destinations: Castanet, Saint-Georges-De-Luzençon, Villeneuve, Salvagnac-Cajarc, Saint-Jean-et-Saint-Paul, Escandolières, Sainte-Eulalie-De-Cernon, Espalion.
For the broader travel overview: Aveyron.
