Le Puy en Velay - Cathédrale Notre-Dame-de-l'Annonciation

Since the early (even pre-Christian) times Le Puy has been a center of pilgrimage. Le Puy was a centre of the cult of Our Lady, already Charlemagne made the pilgrimage to Le Puy twice.

The cathedral is a complex Romanesque structure, kown for a wide variety of styles, located on the steep foot of the "Rocher Corneille". The most parts were erected within the 12th century, influenced by Byzantine architecture. After the French Revolution, that created much damage,the cathedral nearly fell in disrepair, what led to a radical and still very disputed renovation/reconstruction.

The western façade is striped in courses of white sandstone and black volcanic stones. It is reached by a flight of sixty steps. The stairway finally ends inside the cathedral, in front of the high altar.