The Gothic cathedral of Notre-Dame rises above the rooftops of Rodez. After exploring the old town, stop at the Musée Soulages to see how the painter used black to work with light.
At Bozouls, the Dourdou carved out a horseshoe-shaped canyon. From the viewpoints you can see houses on the cliff edge and paths winding down to the river.
At Estaing, a stone bridge crosses the Lot beneath the castle. Pause on the far bank for a view of the village reflected in the water before heading into its lanes.