Aveyron’s traditional pocketknife: Much more than French luxury cutlery

Capital of Aveyron’s cutlery industry: Approximately twenty kilometers from Rodez

A charming rural village in the Occitania region of France

A small wine-producing community

Located in the southwest of France, the Aveyron department is located in the northeast of the Midi-Pyrénées region, in the north of Occitania. The Lot, Tarn and Aveyron rivers cross the region and have shaped the topography of its landscape, creating stunning gorges and valleys. Located near Rodez, the town of Marcillac-Vallon is nestled in the hillsides among terraced vineyards and countless pristine streams. Its altitude ranges from 275 meters to 534 meters (902 – 1,751 feet) - an average of 290 meters (9051 ft). It has 7 hamlets (Baules, Bramarigues, Campels, Caubiac, Malvies, Rieuterre, Saint Rames) and countless smaller lieu-dit (the smallest piece of land which has a traditional vineyard name assigned to it). Marcillac-Vallon belongs to the Rodez catchment area, as well as the Canton of Vallon.

A rural town where life is pleasant

Marcillac-Vallon is a charming agricultural district with a low population density, where life is good. It is known for its ancient red sandstone architecture, which often features a corbeling technique. The town covers fifteen square kilometers and has a little less than 1,800 inhabitants who enjoy a pleasant oceanic climate. The average annual temperature (12.5°C/54°F) is rather high, with only 4 to 8 "cold days" per year. Its numerous castles, bastides and fortresses are not only stunning but also worth visiting.

MARCILLAC-VALLON’S TOURIST OFFICE

52 Tour de ville
12330 Marcillac-Vallon
Telephone: +33 5 65 71 13 18
Email: mairie@marcillacvallon.fr

Marcillac-Vallon’s Tourist Office Website

(Open Monday – Friday: 9:30AM – 12:30PM. Closed on weekends)

Marcillac is not only famous for its traditional French pocketknives

The cutlery craft runs deep in the Aveyron region but Marcillac is also renowned for its high quality red and rosé wines. The Marcillac vineyards are located about 20 kilometers (12 miles) from the town, northwest of Rodez. This wine-growing area developed under the auspices of the Abbey of Conques over a thousand years ago. The wine-growing area was granted AOC and AOP status under the name Marcillac. Presently, only a dozen vineyards produce Marcillac wine.

Read more about the vineyards

Liadou du Vallon’s traditional French pocketknives were awarded the Fabriqué en Aveyron label

Artisanal luxury cutlery that’s characteristic of the Aveyron region

This French pocketknife was created to be used in the vineyards in the Aveyron region. Liadou® means “binding or tying tool” in Occitan as it was used to split grapevine canes in order to tie them to trellises. This famous pocketknife is easily recognizable thanks to its exceptional razor-shape blade that has a signature downward pointing tip and its graceful curves. A sturdy, functional yet simple tool that embodies a handmade quality and attention to detail that is rare to come across these days. There was a time when a winegrower in the Aveyron region wouldn’t be caught out in the vineyards without this trusty, multifunctional pocketknife.

Explore Liadou’s® history

A traditional French pocketknife

An authentic knife: handmade in Marcillac and lifetime warranted

Today, Liadou® pocketknives are created in Vallon de Marcillac, their place of origin, following traditional cutlery crafting methods that have been passed on from generation to generation. Forged from high-end materials in a luxury cutlery workshop, the Liadou® regional knife is 100% French-made, customizable and lifetime warranted. All Liadou® knives come with a Certificate of Authenticity – proof of their extreme durability, superior quality, as well as the provenance of each of the materials used to craft them.

Made in Aveyron using age-old French artisanal cutlery manufacturing methods

A true piece of regional heritage, the Liadou® pocketknife’s revival has gained international recognition. The master cutlery craftsmen in our artisanal workshop in Marcillac work with a very high level of precision, dexterity and technical skill. Luxury cutlery is unique due to the extreme attention that goes into each manufacturing stage, from its assembly to sharpening and polishing. This traditional French winegrower’s pocketknife is steeped in history and has become an emblem of the Aveyron region. The department has awarded the registered trademarks Le Liadou® and Le Liadou du Vallon® with the prestigious "Fabriqué en Aveyron" label – a mark of excellence only awarded to brands that uphold the Aveyron region’s traditional knowledge.

Purchase your traditional French pocketknife in-store in Marcillac and visit our workshop

The luxury cutlery workshop and boutique in Marcillac

The new boutique

Liadou du Vallon® invites you to explore its new boutique, which opened on December 19, 2022 and is located in the center of Marcillac-Vallon.

Open Tuesday – Friday: 9AM – 12PM and 2PM – 6PM
Open Sundays from April – October: 10AM - 12:30PM
Closed on Mondays year-round.
Closed on Sundays from November to March.

Artisanal cutlery workshop

Our cutlery workshop also houses one of our stores. Here our three master craftsmen carefully handcraftcraft Liadou du Vallon’s luxury cutlery®.

If you would like to take a tour of our French luxury cutlery workshop and see the how a Liadou® is created, please call us at +33 5 65 67 15 12.

Liadous’® six collections of high-end knives

Liadou® has six different collections of emblematic winegrower’s pocketknives:

• Liadou Original ®: the first day one
• Liadou Table ®: the only non-folding Liadou
• Liadou Exception®: the most prestigious model
• Petit Liadou®: the smallest handle (4.1in)
• Liadou Tire-bouchon®: the tribute to its roots
• Liadou Racing ®: the latest addition

Purchase Liadou® luxury cutlery online on in one of our french brick-and-mortar locations located in Marcillac-Vallon and Rodez, France !

You can also purchase your Liadou® on our e-shop or in our boutique in Rodez.