Lévézou

The Lévézou is a crystalline high plateau of the center of the Aveyron of an average altitude of approximately 900 meters and whose culminating point is the Pic of the Stake (1155m). It does not correspond to any admisnistrative zone, its limits are not really defined. However, the morphology and the geology of the plate make it possible to delimit it by the abrupt zones of north towards the south while passing by the east. Its western limit with Ségala is more diffuse morphologiquement but the leptyno-amphibolitic belt makes it possible to specify it.

Etymology

Occitan Leveson . A comtale family of Vézins-of-Lévézou door this name.

Geographical location

  • Lévézou is located at the south-west of the Massif Central and constitutes there a unit individualized between the Monts of Lacaune, the Larzac and the Aubrac. It is located in full heart of the department of Aveyron, historical area of Rouergue.

  • Lévézou is delimited in the west by the river of the Viaur, in north by the valley of the Aveyron, in the east by the river of the Muze, and in the south by the river of the Tarn. Lévézou is the intermediate area between Rodez and Millau.

Characteristics

  • Vast metamorphic plate hercynien which rocked at the time erection of the alpine chain: the part is underwent a push which raised it by the east. The edges North, the North-East (valley of Aveyron) and Is (throats of valley of the Muze) are presented today as a rock edge which gives the limits of them.
After the mounts of Aubrac they are the highlands of Aveyron. The grounds are Silice use as the Ségala S.
  • the altitude of the solid mass believes gradually of the west (700m) towards the east (1100m). More the high summits are the Pic of the Stake (1155m), the Mont Seigne (archaeological 1128m, giddinesses), the relay of Bouloc (1100m, telephone tower). Inside the plate the relief is undulating but without more, even dish towards the Canabières tops). The transportation routes must cross collars: D 30 and D993 with Bouloc, D911 with Viarouge.
  • Lévézou is a crystalline solid mass sprinkled good (1000-1200 mm of annual precipitation). It is mainly drained by the Viaur which takes there its source with the foot of the Peak of the Stake (1155m). Many rivers join it on the level of the solid mass like the Céor, the Vioulou and the Bage. The Muze is another important river of Lévézou running out towards the Tarn.

Geology

The solid mass of Lévézou forms with Ségala a whole of metamorphic grounds set up at the time of the Orogenèse hercynienne, with the Paléozoïque. The solid mass separates from Ségala by a zone of rocks of the Leptyno-amphibolite type of a width of a few hundred meters to a few kilometers for its part broadest worms Villefranche-of-Panat. This unit delimits a lower unit Orthogneiss and Micaschiste S of the Ségala overlapped by a metamorphic higher assembly than granitic. The installation in way circular of the leptyno-amphibolite group is not yet well included/understood. However, it is allowed that it corresponds as the same whole leptino-amphobolic of the Massif Central to the residues of the Océan centralien which was closed at the time of the installation of the Chaîne hercynienne. The absence of sedimentation indicates that the solid mass was emerged until today. However, some sediments of the alluvial type or lagunaires are highlighted at Caussanel, Lake Pareloup and Bouloc (on the level of the plate in a strict sense). These sediments are dated from Sorted. From Permian and throughout the secondary, the solid mass of Lévézou and High Ségala were surrounded by water. The valley of Aveyron corresponds to the old strait of Rodez. Alpine orogenesis led to the rise in the whole of the area by the east, formant of the escarpment along the plate. Thus the geographical limits (the escarpments is) and the geological limits (faults in the east and the south, overlapping in the west) correspond well, thus giving an individuality to the solid mass.

Lévézou, like all the Massif Central, presents a considerable tectonic activity. Thus an earthquake of 4,5 on the scale of Richter was felt there on February 18th, 2002.

Communes of Lévézou

History

They consist in collecting the water of Viaur and its affluents to make them fall in the Tarn on the level of Pouget (falls of 400m)

Economy

  • mainly agricultural Area: breeding of bovines and sheep for the meat and milk in particular that of ewe for the production of the Roquefort. The breedings feed the largest cattle markets of France which is located in edge of the plate (Laissac for the bovines and the sheep, Réquista for the sheep).
  • sylviculture is well developed also in this area or the valleys are wooded (leafy trees) as well as the planted tops of coniferous tree.
  • Nombreux Barrage S EDF which forms a system (450 meters of uneven) of collection of water of the rivers by tunnels which are then poured in the Tarn, with the Barrage of Pouget, downstream from Ayssènes by a pressure pipe.
  • tourism developed much these last years thanks to the artificial Lac S (supervised bathes, water sports, veil), and with the rich person inheritance of the area. The tourist activity can make triple the population of the area between September and June. The winter, Lévézou remains insulated by snow and the cold because altitude is high. The artificial lakes are:
  • the creation of a park with topic Micropolis, in reference to the biological diversity of the solid mass and of its famous entomologist Jean-Henri Fabre, made it possible to supplement the tourist offer.
  • a new breath seems to appear for the local economy. After the domestication of the water of the rivers, the development of the wind power is in vogue with projects which emerge a little everywhere. 6 wind mills are already in place with Viarouge, but much from others will emerge from ground (Bridge-with-Salars and Rooms-Curan in particular)
  • the principal villages are Bridge-with-Salars, Rooms-Curan and Vézins-with-Lévézou.

Inheritance

  • the castles medieval, very many, of which those remaining in good state:

    • the Castle of Vézins-of-Lévézou
    • the Castle of Saint-Beauzély
    • the Castle of Castelnau-Pégayrolles
    • the Castle of Montjaux
    • the Castle of Rooms-Curan
    • the Castle of Arvieu.
  • turns:
    • Turn of Vézins-of-Lévézou the
    • Turn of Coudols
    • Turn of Peyrebrune.
  • churches of Vézins, Rooms-Curan, of Canet-with-Salars, of Bridge--Salars, of Alrance, Arvieu, etc
  • visits of farms, the dolmens and the villages…

Ecology

  • the confrontation of the Climate mountain and continental the winter with the Mediterranean climate the summer led to particularly rich environmental conditions on the level of the Flora and Fauna.
  • celebrates It entomologist Jean-Henri Fabre studied many species of insects there amongst other things. The ecological interest of the area was " sacralisée" by the production of documentary with success Microcosmos. A park with topic, Micropolis was built with St-Leon-with-Lévézou in order to initiate the public with this richness.
  • altitude supported the development of Tourbière S and marshy zones which were indexed and are protected by Natura2000.

Climate

Transportation routes

  • the solid mass is crossed by D911, in the past national royal roads then. It connects Cahors at Millau and constitutes an axis structuring for the area although it avoids the principal villages.
Indeed, it was a military way which was built on the peaks to avoid the guets-apens. Today it constitutes a major axis linking the region to A75 in Millau.
  • the development of tourism and the policy of opening-up of the general advice of Aveyron returned the network of good quality, in particular in the neighborhoods of the lakes (D993).
  • No railroad crosses the solid mass. The closest stations are Rodez, Millau and Sévérac-the-Castle for most important.
  • the airport nearest is with 40km approximately, it acts of the Aéroport of Rodez-Marcillac. Small aerodromes are scattered on the plate: Cassagnes-Bégonhès, Caussanel (the summer).

See too

Related articles

External bonds

  • the tourist office Pareloup Lévézou

  • the town hall and the tourist office of rooms-curan, with photographic library of 1000 photographs

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