Rodez is a small city and commune about 150 km northeast of Toulouse. It is the prefecture of
the department of Aveyron in the region of Occitanie.
You will find an excellent range of boutiques and chain stores, and there are open air markets
in Rodez three days a week throughout the year. Rodez is also a great place to visit to eat out. There is a huge choice
of restaurants, and generally the quality is good. There are many cheap and cheerful ‘Menu du Jour’ restaurants around the Cathedral, but you can also find fine dining.
Two great cultural visits are on offer: the Beaux-Arts Museum which exhibits the works of local sculptor Denys Puech, and the Fenaille Museum of History and Archeology which houses amongst other artefacts, a unique collection of Menhir stone statues and has a Renaissance Mansion incorporated in its centre.
Because Rodez is a departmental capital it is possible to find events all year around with theatre and music concerts
held on a regular basis. Annual events which are well worth attending if you visit at the right time are held in the public
gardens below the cathedral, the most notable being the firework display for Bastille Day (July 14th), the Music Festival
called ‘Estivada’ (mid July) and not to be missed, ‘the Pétagne championships’ (held late July early August).