Stage 7 • BRIOUDE > AURILLAC • 159 km

Located at the heart of Auvergne near the Allier river, in verdant and mountainous surroundings, Brioude will draw you into its colorful and warmful southern ambiance. True to its past as a stopover town between northern and southern France, Brioude retains a welcoming spirit and a dynamic economy, tourism benefiting from the nearby A75 highway. The town boasts a rich architectural and historical heritage, most notably the Saint-Julien basilica. This Romanesque masterpiece of the 12th century, has been gifted with contemporary stained-glass windows by the world-famous Kim En Joong. Brioude is just the place for a leisurely stroll, its charming streets holding many a surprise. And the splendid nature all around lends itself to a wide array of outdoor activities : hiking, dirt biking, fishing, cycling, white-water sports. Each and everyone will find the facilities best suited for his goals and desires.

www.brioude.fr

Aurillac, with a population of 30,000, is the principal administrative town in the department of Cantal. Though proud of its Auvergne roots, Aurillac sees itself very much as a southern city, boasting as many days of sunshine a year as Toulouse. In recent years, Aurillac has risen

to the challenges of tomorrow, renovating the Place du Square, inaugurating an aquatic center and a concert hall, launching an ambitious program in favor of sustainable development. Blessed with exceptional natural surroundings, Aurillac is most pleasant to live in. Every summer, the "Européennes du goût" festival takes place here, a tribute to gastronomy. An international festival of street theater has also been held here for over twenty years. Deeply committed to sports like rugby, football, handball and cycling, Aurillac is proud to welcome the 2008 Tour de France.

www.aurillac.fr