Laguiole

Visit Laguiole, Midi-Pyrenees

Laguiole is on the Aveyron side of the Aubrac plateau 54km north east of Rodez.

Laguiole lies on the edge of the great Aubrac plateau, a volcanic plateau covering 2500 square km. The plateau has the look of Scottish moorlands and stretches giving great vistas of sky and vast sweeping grasslands.

The plateaus are the summer home of the Aubrac cattle and every spring the 'transhumance', the taking of the cattle from the lowlands up on to the plateau takes place.These cattle with their lovely sandy colour, long thin horns and black eyes are reared to make cheese.  The 'tome de Laguiole' has AOC (Appellation d'Origine Controléé) status for its fine quality.

Cheese plays a large part in food in the area. If you stay for lunch in one of the good restaurants in the town of Laguiole, or elsewhere in northern Aveyron, try Aligot a cheese and potato mixture popular in the area. Particularly good in the winter as it is a heavy, warming dish excellent for a cold day.

Laguiole knives

However the best thing about Laguiole is its knife factory. Make sure you don't miss a visit to the Forge de Laguiole, home of the beautiful and much sought after Laguiole knives.

If you visit the forge you can tour the factory and see how these beautiful knives are made. Skilled craftsmen work in rooms in twos and threes and each make their knives from start to finish. They have two top knife makers, Virgilio Munoz Caballero and Stephane Rambaud who make knives for their collectors series.

To celebrate its 120th anniversary the Eiffel Tower gave a part of its iron to the Forge de Laguiole for a special knife collection to be made.  These were then given out to special guests such as Barrack Obama. Nicolas Sarkosy's office sometimes ask for special knives to be made to give to visiting heads of state.

In the shop you can see knives designed by Philippe Starck, who also designed the building housing the Forge de Laguiole. Designers from the worlds of fashion, furniture and architecture have also worked with the forge to produce beautiful designs which are then made in the factory.

Some of the knives sell for more than 1000 euros each but there are many at a much more affordable budget (though not cheap) and I promise you will be wanting to buy one.

See Midi-Pyrenees and Aveyron (the region and department for Laguiole) for more travel ideas...

Photos of Laguiole

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Suggested places to visit near Laguiole, France

Distances shown are direct, driving distances will be greater.

More suggestions: Sainte-Eulalie-d'Olt 26km; Vieillevie 34km; Aumont Aubrac 35km; Conques 37km; Marvejols 38km; Marcoles 41km; Mourjou 41km; Aurillac 42km; Rodez 43km; Saint-Flour 43km; Severac-le-Chateau 44km;

Laguiole tourist information: sights and attractions nearby

Cascade du Déroc - site of natural beauty (18km) : Jardin d'Eden du château du Colombier - remarkable garden (38km) : Plomb du Cantal - site of natural beauty (42km) : Puy Griou - site of natural beauty (45km) : Puy Mary - grand site of france (49km) :

See more places and a map at places near Laguiole