Aubin: Discover mining heritage and cultural heritage

Aubin combines the history of the Decazeville coalfield with religious heritage, industrial structures and a landscape that was reforested after mining ended. Museums, the plateau, church, fort and forest trails each offer a different perspective. This makes it possible to get to know the place through its industrial history as well as its architecture and landscape.

Industrial history and remembrance

The Musée de la Mine Lucien Mazars, also known as the Musée de la Mine d'Aubin, was inaugurated in 1979. Its three rooms tell the story of the Decazeville coalfield. A reconstructed mine gallery depicts scenes from miners’ lives, alongside a simulation of a firedamp explosion. The exhibition thus combines the history of the coalfield with a vivid portrayal of the mining industry.

The Maison Départementale de la mémoire résistance, déportation et citoyenneté is dedicated to the Second World War. Across three floors, it presents stories, accounts, eyewitness testimonies and photographs about the war years in Aveyron and France. The two institutions therefore have clearly distinct historical focuses: the mining museum covers the coalfield and mining industry, while the Maison Départementale focuses on the war years.

The Plateau des Forges du Gua is a workers’ district that developed in connection with the industrial use of coal and the production of pig iron and steel. It is freely accessible year-round. The two factory chimneys in Aubin are partially listed as historic monuments. The plateau and chimneys are architectural traces of industrial history, while the museum conveys this history through its exhibition and reconstruction.

Church and fort

The Église Notre-Dame d'Aubin was built in the 12th century and altered in the 15th century. Romanesque and Gothic elements come together in its architecture. Its Romanesque treasures include a polychrome wooden Christ, a sculpted capital, an altar and a lead baptismal font. The building phases and furnishings offer two perspectives on the church’s religious heritage.

The Fort d'Aubin stands on a rocky outcrop and offers panoramic views over the town. A narrow lane lined with half-timbered houses leads to it. The Chemin de Conques à Toulouse also leads to the Fort d'Aubin.

Forêt de la Vaysse and circular trails

The Forêt de la Vaysse is characterized by black locust trees and grew on former open-pit mines that were reforested after mining ended. The forest thus points to a later phase of industrial history: reforestation of the land followed extraction. The origins of this landscape differ from the built and museum traces of mining.

Marked circular trails in the Forêt de la Vaysse are described in the hiking guide “De Découverte en découverte.” They are considered suitable for families as well as experienced hikers. At the fort, the focus is on the panoramic views and access through the half-timbered lane; the Forêt de la Vaysse brings together woodland and the history of the former open-pit mines.

Discover more destinations: Castelnau-Pégayrols, Brusque, Firmi, Coubisou, Sanvensa, Saint-Salvadou, Saint-André-De-Najac, Mur-De-Barrez.

For the regional travel overview: Aveyron.