Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Le Puy en Velay

Since the early (even pre-Christian) times Le Puy has been a center of pilgrimage. From the 11th century on, this was one of the points from where pilgrims started their way to Santiago de Compostella. I had walked through Le Puy, when I had started in Geneva in 2008 - and I remember my feelings, when I saw the peaks the first time - in pouring rain. Saint Michel d'Aiguilhe was built in 969 on a volcanic plug (85 metres high). It is reached by 268 steps carved into the rock. Already the Romans had a temple here.

Since the early (even pre-Christian) times Le Puy has been a center of pilgrimage. From the 11th century on, this was one of the points from where pilgrims started their way to Santiago de Compostella. I had walked through Le Puy, when I had started in Geneva in 2008 - and I remember my feelings, when I saw the peaks the first time - in pouring rain. Inside the Cathedral Notre-Dame (12th century) is a statue of a Black Virgin, but that is a copy. The miraculous original Black Virgin, given to the cathedral by Louis IX (Saint-Louis) on his return from Egypt (7th cruisade), statue was burnt by furious revolutionists just outside the cathedral. This may have led to the erection of "Notre-Dame de France" on the top of the Rocher Corneille. It was made from 213 Russian cannons taken in the "Siege of Sevastopol" (1854–1855).

Since the early (even pre-Christian) times Le Puy has been a center of pilgrimage. From the 11th century on, this was one of the points from where pilgrims started their way to Santiago de Compostella. I had walked through Le Puy, when I had started in Geneva in 2008 - and I remember my feelings, when I saw the peaks the first time - in pouring rain. Seen in the center is the Cathedral Notre-Dame from the 12th century and the Romanesque belltower (7 storeys). On the peak "behind" the cathedral is the iron statue of "Notre-Dame de France". It was made from 213 Russian cannons taken in the "Siege of Sevastopol" (1854–1855) - and stands up there since 1860. To the left is Saint Michel d'Aiguilhe.

...old cloister of the cathedral. The 19th century gigantic virgin on the peak in the back.

...sunshine after the rain on the marketplace...

...looking at the hills of Le Puy, walking a bad slippery track, next to the noisy road. Meanwhile in pouring rain again.....