Overview of the main events which will mark the year 2025 in Aveyron.
Espalion hospital hopes to restructure and regain its beds
The legacy of Paul-Plagnard, which made it possible to inflate the new nursing home project to €40 million, has still not seen the first groundbreaking on the banks of the Lot. Announced with great fanfare in mid-2022, the construction site of the new health establishment intended to restructure the medical sector, create an energy center and a logistics center at the Espalion hospital, has still not started even though the work was initially planned for 2023. As a reminder, this restructuring project includes the inclusion of 13 medical beds and 150 beds for the nursing home.
Added to this is the closure of 19 beds since the end of 2023. An announced “temporary” closure which continues. Hardly reassuring, therefore, when reading the master plan, on the official website, which sets “the objective of defining the architectural organization of the establishment over this period 2024-2028 with in particular the construction of the Rouergue vascular cardiological institute. It will include an eco-responsible component,” it is specified. Given the budget cuts, this component risks remaining closed.
Episcopal Palace in Rodez: start of work expected in the first quarter
In the absence of an official presentation announced last December, we must cling to the key dates set out on the official website of the Department concerning the episcopal palace project. This historic monument of Aveyron, which extends over 3,900 m² of surface area, 6,000 m² of garden and has a main courtyard of 1,000 m², is due to open to the public in 2026.
“This new living space in Aveyron” as it is announced, with an investment of €13.80 million excluding tax for work and €700,000 excluding tax for decoration, houses the Corbières tower, the Estaing tower, the old ramparts of Rodez , the entrance portal also listed as a Historic Monument and the paintings in the main hall of honor also listed as a Historic Monument. Construction is due to begin in the first quarter of this year.
Another emblematic monument of Aveyron, currently under construction but not classified as a historic monument, is also under construction. This is the Hôtel des montagne which houses the office of the Aubrac regional natural park, in Aubrac. This project, worth €1.5 million, should make it possible to reopen the place in 2026, like the episcopal palace.
Will the elections reshuffle the cards in Aveyron?
Elections to the Chamber of Agriculture will take place from January 17 to 31 in Aveyron. It is made up of 33 members elected by direct suffrage for a period of 6 years within two colleges (individual and group). During the last elections, in 2019, the FDSEA-JA list came well ahead with 56.19% of the votes ahead of the Peasant Confederation (25.54%) and the Rural Coordination (18.27%).
The participation rate was significantly down with 50.10% compared to 60.7% in 2013. It remains to be seen whether the year 2024, marked by numerous demonstrations, will be reflected in the polls and whether the majority union's share of the pie will be nibbled away. by the other two unions. Finally, Jacques Molières is not representing himself. A new face who will have a lot to do to make the voice of farmers heard, whose number of farms continues to decline.
Municipal elections: the kick-off has already been given
Things have already started to move on the Piton at the end of the year with a new resignation in the municipal council and a deputy even more present locally… The 2026 municipal elections are in the crosshairs to take Rodez, Millau and other municipalities by storm Again. Conversely, small municipalities are already launching a call to find a successor. This is the case of Patrick Gayrard in his January editorial of the municipal bulletin in Druelle-Balsac.
We remember in Saint-Chély-d'Aubrac, for example, that Christiane Marfin left to serve a mandate by force of circumstances. Mayors, under increasing pressure, are resigning in large numbers. Given the surrounding context, this should not work out. Will this lead to the creation of new municipalities? Still, 2025 will be rich in strategic contests for the municipal elections of March 2026. And the January wishes from the four corners of the department should give some clues…
But also…
Tourism. The Aubrac resorts hope to see the snow fall again in preparation for the February holidays to try to perpetuate this tourism in all four seasons… Otherwise, you can always take the plane with five new destinations expected this year on the Ruthenian tarmac.
Breeding. Baraqueville will host the national Limousin breed competition in September.
Petanque. The Espalion International will take place from August 8 to 11. For those who prefer to run, the Trans Aubrac is set for April 19.
Transhumances. The next edition of Aubrac en Transhumance will take place from May 22 to Sunday May 25 (8,600 visitors brought in more than one million euros and 80 local companies took part in the event in 2023). Note that Saint-Geniez organizes its transhumance, the summer pasture festival, on May 24, which is free. Aubrac again, the Traces du fromage will allow you to get into shape on March 15 on Aubrac. Aubrac still with the Davalada, a gourmet hike from buron to buron in October which symbolizes the return of the herds to the farms.
Mobility. Speaking of transhumance, cows will continue to wait in 2025 to watch the trains go by. The Millau-Rodez line, which was to be relaunched, is no longer. Blame it on inflation, the war in Ukraine, state procrastination, etc. Good old thermal cars therefore have a future despite a countdown launched to make them disappear from the asphalt within ten years.
Culture. The 21st edition of Cap Mômes, the traveling show festival, takes up residence for the last year in Espalion on July 18 and 19.
Gastronomy. The race for gourmet stars will deliver its verdict with the Michelin guide, the selection of which will be revealed on Monday March 31 in Moselle, in Metz. Aveyron will perhaps shine a little more with, why not, a star awarded to Vasco Baldisserotto, conductor at “Opéra” in Rodez. For his part, the sommelier and arm of Bras, Sergio Calderon, will bow out at the emblematic Suquet in Laguiole.
Agriculture. The Agricultural Show will take place from February 22 to March 2.
