Aubin

Aubin is located in the Aveyron department and has a history deeply embedded in the Decazeville industrial basin. For decades, the town operated as a major coal mining center, an industrial heritage now documented at the Musée de la Mine, which displays the tools and working conditions of former miners. An unusual natural phenomenon in the immediate area is the burning mountain (La Montagne qui brûle), where a centuries-old underground coal fire continually releases gases to the surface. Above the municipality stand the ruins of an 11th-century medieval fortress, a structure that suffered severe damage during the French Wars of Religion. In the historic core of the town is the 12th-century Romanesque Saint-Amans church, notable for its massive pillars and a remarkably well-preserved tympanum. The architecture along the narrow streets surrounding the old market square is defined by traditional half-timbered houses with overhanging upper floors. Despite its heavy industrial past, Aubin is now encircled by oak forests and the green hills of Aveyron, providing a sharp contrast to its mining history. The local culinary scene frequently features regional specialties such as aligot and hearty cured meats.

Nearby cities

Toulouse

Toulouse, often referred to as 'The Pink City' (La Ville Rose), owes this name to its characteristic brick buildings.

Toulouse-Centre

Toulouse-Centre forms the historic quarter of the city with red brick buildings.

Toulouse-Sud

The southern area of Toulouse includes residential zones and modern scientific parks.

Montpellier

Montpellier is a dynamic city in the south of France, known for its medieval streets, its university, and the sunny Place de la Comédie.

Béziers

Béziers sits near the Mediterranean and is known for the Canal du Midi, vineyards, and its distinctive old town.

Montauban

Montauban is a southwestern French city with pink brick, wide squares, and a long trading history.

Albi

Albi is a red-brick city and UNESCO site with a powerful cathedral and a charming old town.

Narbonne

Narbonne is an ancient Roman city near the coast with a cathedral, canals, and a southern Mediterranean feel.

Castres

A picturesque Occitan city famous for its colorful houses lining the Agout river and its major pharmaceutical industry.

Alès

The gateway to the Cévennes, a city with a deep mining heritage and a key industrial hub in Occitanie.

Colomiers

A dynamic city in the Toulouse metropolitan area, the European heart of the aerospace industry.

Rodez

Rodez sits on a hill in Aveyron and combines a medieval old town with modern culture.

Onet-le-Château

A dynamic suburb of Rodez with an impressive medieval castle and a modern cultural life.

Auch

Auch is the historic capital of Gascony and a quiet hill town with a cathedral and old center.

Muret

A historic city on the Garonne river, known for the decisive Battle of Muret and as the birthplace of aviation pioneer Clément Ader.

History & landmarks

Carcassonne

A magnificent double-walled medieval fortress and UNESCO World Heritage site in Occitanie.