Le Puy-en-Velay - Saint Michel d'Aiguilhe

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

In medieval times Le Puy has been a point, where pilgrims met, to follow the "Via Podensis" to Santiago de Compostella (-> 1600 km). It still is! I past through here in 2008 on my way from Geneva. The stretch between Le Puy and Conques was (for me!) an impressing walk. Crossing the Aubrac is breathtaking!

On top of this volcanic plug (85 metres high) was a dolmen already in prehistoric times, that in Roman times was dedicated to Mercury. It is said that three stones of that dolmen got integrated into the chapel
Bishop Godescalc of Le Puy had built after his return from the pilgrimage Santiago de Compostella in 951.

In the 12th century, the chapel "Saint Michel d'Aiguilhe" (= Saint Michel of the Needle) was enlarged, and a nave, ambulatory, two side chapels, a narthex, a portal, and a bell tower were added. The chapel can be reached by 268 steps carved into the rock.