Volvic - Saint-Priest

There are two products, this small town, near Riom 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 younger product is the "Volvic" mineral water. Zillions of plastic bottles, filled with Volvic-water 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).

Standing in the nave, facing east to the choir. The nave and the aisles are constructed by the black, vulcanic stone from Volvic. The black capitals seen her are just plain, but the romanesque choir has an ambulatory - and there are some interesting carvings to find.