Volvic - Saint-Priest

There are two products, the small town of Volvic is pretty famous for. There are the black stones from Volvic, used all over the Auvergne. The gothic cathedral in Clermont-Ferrand is built from the black stones, coming from Volvic.

The much younger product is "Volvic" mineral water. Several zillions of plastic bottles leave this place every week or month.

Long time before Danone (Evian, Badoit, La Salvetat....) entered the stage in Volvic, this place was owned by St. Priest (aka Priest de Clermont, aka Saint Praejectus), bishop of Clermont. St. Priest was stabbed to death here in 676 and immediately was venerated as a martyr. His sucessor Avitor founded an abbey here, that later was depending from Mozac (1169).

The western facade built from the black Volvic stones is way younger, but the transept and the apses are from the 12th century.