Aveyron (river)

For the tributary of the Loing, see Aveyron (Loing).

The Aveyron (French pronunciation: [aveʁɔ̃] ^ⓘ; Occitan: Avairon) is a 291 km long river in southern France, right tributary of the Tarn.^[1] It rises in the southern Massif Central, near Sévérac-le-Château.

Aveyron
15th-century bridge at Belcastel
Native name	L'Aveyron (French)
Location
Country	France
Physical characteristics
Source
• location	Massif Central
Mouth
• location	Tarn
• coordinates	44°5′13″N 1°16′0″E
Length	291 km (181 mi)
Basin size	5,300 km2 (2,000 sq mi)
Discharge
• average	57 m3/s (2,000 cu ft/s)
Basin features
Progression	Tarn→ Garonne→ Gironde estuary→ Atlantic Ocean

In 1855 evidence of prehistoric man was found near Bruniquel under a hill called Montastruc. The hill was 98 foot high. The account said the overhang extended for about 46 feet along the river and the area enclosed was 298 square yards. Within this cave was found the 13,000-year-old sculpture called Swimming Reindeer.^[2]

Tributaries include

• Viaur
• Cérou
• Vère
• Alzou

Places along the river

The Aveyron flows west through the following départements and towns:

• Aveyron (named after the river): Rodez, Villefranche-de-Rouergue.
• Tarn.
• Tarn-et-Garonne.

  Bruniquel: a town north-east of Toulouse

It flows into the Tarn near Lafrançaise, north-west of Montauban.