Between heaven and earth, in the heart of the Auvergne region, Le Puy-en-Velay is home to an exceptional heritage listed by UNESCO. As the European capital of the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela, the town has long been the most visited Marian city in the Christian West. What to see and do in Le Puy-en-Velay, follow the guide!
The statue of Notre-Dame de France
Get some height by visiting the Statue of Notre-Dame de France, which dominates the town of Le Puy-en-Velay from the "Rocher Corneille". The work of sculptor Jean-Marie Bonnassieux, the statue of the Virgin is 22.70 m high and weighs 835 tonnes, created from the metal of 213 Russian cannons used in the Crimean War.
The Chapelle Saint-Michel d'Aiguilhe
North of the town of Le Puy-en-Velay, the chapel of Saint-Michel d'Aiguilhe is unique in France! It was built in the 10th century on the summit of an ancient volcano. You'll have to climb 268 steps to reach the chapel, which stands 82 metres high. More than 70,000 tourists and pilgrims visit the Aiguilhe rock and chapel every year.
Guided tour in the heart of the town
Let yourself be tempted by a guided tour of the historic centre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Start with Notre-Dame Cathedral, a major monument to Romanesque art and the Christian West. You can also visit the Hôtel-Dieu, now the Hôtel des Lumières, the largest digital art centre in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. For museum-lovers, we can't recommend enough a visit to the Musée Crozatier, an encyclopaedic museum that covers all aspects of Le Puy-en-Velay: archaeology, Velay crafts, science and the fine arts.
Le Puy-en-Velay, starting point for the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela
The historic starting point of the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela, Le Puy-en-Velay is now Europe's busiest route to Spain. Every year, the shrine town welcomes thousands of walkers, believers and non-believers alike, in search of adventure or spirituality. The famous GR65, GR70, GR3 and GR700 are all within easy reach.
Upcoming event: the Fêtes du Roi de l'Oiseau (Bird King Festival)
Every year, on the third weekend in September, Le Puy-en-Velay takes on the colours of the Renaissance with the Fêtes Renaissance du Roi de l'Oiseau. Heir to the great archery competition that took place in Le Puy-en-Velay in the 16th century, this major popular festival takes the town back to the time of Leonardo da Vinci. Over the course of four days, there will be a whole host of events: scenes from daily life, merchant and military encampments, shows, balls, acrobats, musicians, archery competitions, historical parades, etc.
.png)
.png)
