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There are places that feel as though they’ve been waiting for you. From the Belmont-sur-Rance campsite, it takes only about thirty minutes to reach the Abbey of Sylvanès, yet once you arrive, it feels as though you’ve traveled far beyond mere distance.

The valley gently closes in, the light shifts, and the abbey comes into view, nestled in a lush green setting. It often feels like stepping into another world — one where sound, stone, and even the air itself tell a story.

Travelling by motorhome in Aveyron—especially around Saint-Affrique—is a unique experience. With its natural landscapes, authentic villages, and peaceful roads, the region is attracting more and more motorhome travellers looking for freedom and a chance to unwind.

But once you arrive, one essential question arises: where should you park your motorhome in Saint-Affrique for a comfortable overnight stay?

Just a short walk from Camping Vert Lavande, the Belmont-sur-Rance Airfield has, over the decades, become a true meeting place for microlight clubs, pilot groups, aeronautical associations, and anyone involved in or organizing light aviation activities.

In southern Aveyron, there is no better balance of natural surroundings, suitable facilities, friendliness, and accessibility for groups.

If you’re looking for a venue for a gathering, a club outing, a flying weekend, a glider training camp, a microlight stay, or even an accommodation base for an air tour, you’ve come to the right place.

Staying at Camping Vert Lavande in Belmont-sur-Rance means enjoying an exceptional natural setting… but also discovering one of the richest heritage areas in southern Aveyron. Within less than 45 minutes of the campsite, Gothic churches, Templar bastides, hilltop castles, listed villages, and landscapes shaped by time await you. And since I regularly explore the surrounding area to better guide my visitors, here is my personal selection — tried, tested, and never disappointing.

I say it every time I visit: stepping into the Caves of Roquefort is like changing seasons in a second. You leave the gentle warmth of Aveyron, push open a door… and suddenly you’re in a cool 10°C atmosphere, even in the height of summer.

And surprisingly, there’s no strong cheese smell hitting you as you walk in. The air is unexpectedly neutral. The magic happens quietly — in the perfect humidity, in the stillness, and in the patience of the master cheese refiners.

And if I can give you one truly good insider tip: visit at least two caves. You’ll discover two stories, two atmospheres, two aging methods… and twice the pleasure.

The first time, I promised myself I’d only visit one.
Spoiler: I gave in the moment I stepped out of the shop.

Perched on its rocky spur, proudly overlooking the Rougier de Camarès and the Dourdou Valley, Montaigut Castle has watched over the landscape for more than a thousand years. First mentioned in the 10th century, it was then nothing more than a modest watchtower — almost shy on its rock.

Over the centuries, the de Blanc family gave it elegance in the 15th century, transforming it and dressing it in new stone. Other eras followed, with further works, right up to the 17th century. And just when all seemed lost, in the 1970s, passionate volunteers from the REMPART Union rescued it from oblivion. A beautiful second life story, just the way we like them.