Le Puy Attractions
Le Puy, chief town of the département of Haute-Loire, lies on the right bank of the river Borne, on a rolling plateau on the eastern border of Auvergne. The town is dominated by its Cathedral and by two extraordinary natural features, the Rocher Corneille (755m/2,477ft) and the rock pinnacle known as the Aiguilhe St-Michel (both volcanic chimneys shaped by erosion and weathering).
Le Puy has a long tradition in the manufacture of pillow lace.
Le Puy was founded in the sixth century as the see of the bishop of the Velay, and since the 10th century has been a great pilgrimage center with a much revered Black Virgin (pilgrimage on Aug. 15). It was also the starting point of one of the pilgrim routes to Santiago de Compostela, and among the earliest pilgrims was a 10th century bishop of Le Puy, who after his safe return built the chapel of St-Michel on the Aiguilhe.
Le Puy has a long tradition in the manufacture of pillow lace.
Le Puy was founded in the sixth century as the see of the bishop of the Velay, and since the 10th century has been a great pilgrimage center with a much revered Black Virgin (pilgrimage on Aug. 15). It was also the starting point of one of the pilgrim routes to Santiago de Compostela, and among the earliest pilgrims was a 10th century bishop of Le Puy, who after his safe return built the chapel of St-Michel on the Aiguilhe.
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Le Puy Cathedral
The 12th C Le Puy Cathedral is an important pilgrimage site, which stands high on a hill top. A large set of stairs made of colored volcanic stone, leads to the blocked up, former entrance.
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Aiguilhe St Michel
The setting of the Aiguilhe St Michel is quite stunning and offers views from its elevated location over the surrounding countryside.
Lace Museum
In Le Puy, near St-Laurent, is the Atelier Conservatoire National de la Dentelle à la Main, where visitors can watch the making of pillow lace and can see a collection of lace from the 17th C. onwards.
Le Puy-en-Velay - Fêtes Mariales
Fêtes Mariales is an annual two-day festival held in mid-August to celebrate the Feast of the Assumption. Processions, street entertainment and traditional craft and food stalls are only some of the events during the festival.
Le Puy-en-Velay - International Folk Festival
This highly-acclaimed folk festival, International Folk Festival, brings together musicians, dancers and singers for one week each summer.
The festival usually takes place in mid-July in Le Puy-en-Velay and also includes a traditional trades fair and expositions.
The festival usually takes place in mid-July in Le Puy-en-Velay and also includes a traditional trades fair and expositions.
Le Puy-en-Velay - Roi de l'Oiseau Festival
Th annual festival, Roi de l'Oiseau Festival. is based on a 16th C archery competition called "shooting the king". The modern festival runs for one week in mid-September and keeps the Renaissance tradition alive. Events include an open-air feast, dancing bears, acrobats, fire-eaters, food and craft stalls and a "King of the Bird" horse riding competition.
Residents also dress in period costume to add authenticity to the celebrations.
Residents also dress in period costume to add authenticity to the celebrations.
Rocher Corneille
In Le Puy, above the Cathedral to the north rises the Rocher Corneille (755m/2,477ft), a volcanic chimney left isolated by the erosion of the softer rock surrounding it, from the top of which there are extensive views. It is crowned by a statue of the Virgin erected in 1860 (which can be climbed on a spiral staircase inside the figure).
Rocher St Joseph
1km/0.75mi west of St-Laurent is the Rocher St-Joseph, topped by a statue of St Joseph (fine panoramic views).
St Laurent
To the south of the Aiguilhe St Michel, on the northwest side of Le Puy old town, is the Gothic church of St-Laurent (14th C.), originally belonging to a Dominican monastery.
Le Puy Surroundings
Lac du Bouchet
5km/3mi south of Le Puy by way of the Pépinière de Taulhac (view of a bend on the Loire) is the Lac du Bouchet, a crater lake at an altitude of 1,208m/3,963ft.
