Rodez, in the heart of Aveyron, is best discovered slowly, at the pace of the exhibitions that grace its museums. With its blend of abstract art, antique portraits and the world of Agnès Varda, the town proves to be the ideal destination for leisurely cultural trips.
Rodez, a town to be relished at a relaxed pace
In Rodez, nobody is in a rush. Slow down and take the time to see, feel and understand this southwestern town, nestled in the heart of the Aveyron region. Historical heritage meets the soothing landscapes of the Causses, and art flourishes in museums acclaimed as cultural beacons. Rodez epitomises the spirit of slow tourism, encouraging visitors to take their time, seek out encounters with art and scenery, and leave feeling enriched by their experience.
With three major exhibitions set to captivate the city’s cultural scene, 2025 promises to be an especially exciting year. Visitors can look forward to a tribute to the discreet yet visionary artist Cosme de Scoraille, an intriguing dialogue between the Fenaille Museum and the Louvre on antique portraits, and a poetic exploration of the world of Agnès Varda at the Soulages Museum.
Cosme de Scoraille: painting for the stars
From 17 May 2025 to 8 March 2026, the Denys-Puech museum invites visitors to explore the intimate and spiritual world of Cosme de Scoraille, a painter renowned for his lyrical abstract works. His body of work, comprising more than 3,000 pieces, has long been overlooked, but now reveals itself as a mysterious constellation.
We are transported to a realm where art interacts with the cosmos through his pastels, acrylic on kraft paper, and study sketchbooks. His paintings are not demonstrative; they are open, meditative and deeply rooted in an inner quest. This exhibition, titled “I Paint for the Stars” showcases the artist’s extraordinary journey and explores his connections with notable figures of his era, including Picasso and Jean Dubuffet.
With its intimate atmosphere, free admission and richly illustrated catalogue, this exhibition is a must-see for anyone wanting to experience Rodez in a different light in the serene setting of a museum dedicated to visionary artists who are often underrepresented.
Visages: the art of ancient portraiture
An extraordinary journey through time awaits visitors to the Fenaille museum from 7 June to 2 November 2025. The exhibition “Visages” (Faces) is the result of an exceptional collaboration with the Louvre Museum and features nearly sixty masterpieces of Greek and Roman portraiture.
The faces of Augustus, Hadrian, Alexander the Great and Homer are brought vividly to life throughout the rooms. These portraits, whether depicting images of power, ritual offerings or anonymous individuals, question our relationship with images and identity. Neither simple reflections nor photographs, they exemplify the power of artistic creation.
This echo is all the more powerful in Rodez, where the Fenaille museum already houses a remarkable collection of menhir statues, the earliest representations of humans in Western Europe. The past and present are linked together in a fascinating way that creates a continuous narrative. This exhibition is more than just a window onto antiquity; it invites visitors to reflect on the enduring nature of the human face in art, from Neolithic stone carvings to contemporary images.
Agnès Varda: the sea at the Soulages museum
The summer of 2025 will see Rodez play host to an icon of cinema and contemporary art: Agnès Varda. The Soulages museum is dedicating an ambitious exhibition to her, entitled “Je suis curieuse. Point” (I’m curious. Period), from 28 June 2025 to 4 January 2026.
Varda lived through her era with an insatiable curiosity, as a photographer, filmmaker, visual artist and committed feminist. The exhibition brings together over a hundred works: unpublished photographs, film installations, objects and her “cinema huts”. She draws us into her favourite topics –the Mediterranean, ports, the sea and beach huts– but she also shares her struggles, dreams and imagination with us.
Throughout this journey, the museum pays tribute to the friendship between Varda and Pierre Soulages, establishing a poetic dialogue between their respective artistic universes. As if watching a film, visitors are carried from one room to the next, discovering the story of a life that constantly pulls the filmmaker back to the sea. The exhibition catalogue, “Les rêveries d’Agnès” (Agnès’s reveries), expands on this emotional journey.
Slow tourism in Rodez: more than just a visit, an experience
These three exhibitions are not isolated events; they reflect the city’s vibrant culture, which offers visitors a timeless experience. Strolling through narrow medieval streets, admiring the Gothic cathedral, sitting down at a café terrace at the end of a visit: Rodez invites you to savour every moment.
Slow tourism means taking the time to meet the locals: a passionate guide, a restaurant owner who introduces you to the flavours of Aveyron, or a resident who shows you their favourite sunset spot. In Rodez, it’s not just about “doing” museums; it’s about experiencing them, inhabiting them and connecting with them at your own pace.
An invitation to experience cultural escapism
Rodez might not be the first city that springs to mind for a cultural break, and that’s exactly what makes it so charming. There are no endless queues or crowded museums here: the experience remains intimate and on a human scale.
The Cosme de Scoraille exhibition at the Denys-Puech museum, the “Visages” exhibition at the Fenaille museum, and the tribute to Agnès Varda at the Soulages museum will offer a glimpse into unique and complementary worlds throughout 2025. Three different ways to talk about humanity: the stars, faces, and the sea.
So why not give in to Rodez’s appeal? Take time to slow down, to reflect, to dream. Allow art to be your guide as you discover a city that can be savoured like a living work of art.
To prepare for your trip, go to: www.rodez-tourisme.fr
