Grands Causses Regional Natural Park
Humans and their activity Grands Causses Regional Natural Park
For almost 5,000 years men in the Grands Causses have practiced agriculture, raised their sheep and manufactured a famous cheese: Roquefort.
Today, the farming activity aimed mainly at the production of sheep's milk is the main economic resource in the southern Aveyron.
Closely linked with shepherding, the Roquefort cheese industry produces the oldest cheese Appelation d'Origine (status obtained in 1925). In the 18th century, Diderot was already describing Roquefort as the "king of cheeses".
At the start of the 20th century, traditional artisans started to work leather (sheep, ewes and lambs). Large numbers of tanneries, fellmongers and glove factories appeared in the Millau, which today enjoy an international reputation.
The southern Aveyron also relies on new technologies. A number of high-tech companies are working in sectors such as aeronautics or electronics.
Finally, we should also mention tourism, with numerous outdoor activities and the possibility of making cultural discoveries.
