Duration: 2 hours
Distance From Montpellier: 118 km by road, 1h30
Distance From Toulouse: 150 km by road, 2h05
Weather Internal and external
Budget : from 5 to 7 euros
Feature : on foot
Best season: spring, summer, autumn, winter
You can't stay in the southern Aveyron without visiting Alice's farm.
Aaah Alice... a generous and energetic little woman who will share with you her passion for agriculture.
What motivates her: talking about the industry, her job, the region, the know-how, the land, the fabulous cheese that is Roquefort...
The farm is located in Hermilix, a few kilometres from Saint-Affrique in a caussenard setting where she welcomes me with her warm smile and invites me to follow her into her sheepfold.
#1 Visit to the farm
The entrance to the sheepfold is surprising. I didn't expect to see such a large space, with so many ewes! The smell of the hay and the ewes makes me feel like a real farmer for a moment! I meet her 550 Lacaune ewes whose milk is used to make Roquefort cheese.
Alice explains her job to me: the ewes only go out for 3 hours a day because we have to control the feeding of these ladies so that they provide quality milk and milking is done twice a day from December to August.
Good to know:
A ewe produces about 1 to 1.5 litres of milk per day
#2 Discovery of the wash house
It is now time to go to the wash house. Located not far from the sheepfold, I understand that this large round basin allows the animals to quench their thirst. And yes, it is hot in Aveyron! The bottom is clay. To retain rainwater, it is covered with cobblestones so that the sheep do not slip when they go to drink.
This lavogne, situated in a natural environment, inspires serenity and tranquillity for our ewes. Aah, they are lucky to live in the Roquefort region!
Did you know that?
A lavogne is a basin with a clay bottom built by man on the Causses (limestone plateaux) which collects rainwater to water the livestock.
#3 Tasting
My visit ends with a moment of relaxation in a beautiful vaulted room where a tasting awaits me.
A tasting? No, rather a tasty and copious snack because Alice is generous and likes to please others. On the menu: roquefort sandwiches, home-made jam and a typical Aveyron dessert: the famous flaune. In the room, several smells mingle: that of good fresh roquefort, blackberries and orange blossom. An awakening of the taste buds! These hitherto unknown flavours are a real treat for my palate!
I leave satisfied, my eyes full of memories and rich with this experience that I will be able to share with my friends!
Did you know that?
Flaune is a delicious speciality from the south of Aveyron
Flaune recipe by Alice Ricard
Ingredients (4 people)
- 1 good shortcrust pastry
- 1 kg of recuit
- 8 good eggs
- orange peel (2 oranges)
- 3 tablespoons of orange blossom
- 150 g sugar
Before baking, sprinkle with cane sugar
Alice's secret: "Use an iron mould rather than a glass one".
PRACTICAL INFORMATION / CONTACT
EXPLOITATION ALICE RICARD
Address: Hermilix, 12400 Versols-et-Lapeyre
Telephone: 33 (0)5 65 99 06 46
Email: jeanlouis.ricard@nordnet.fr
Did you know?
The ewes require a lot of attention from our farmers, so remember to book before you come.