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).

The capitals in St. Priest do not have the wonderful, sleek elegance of the carvings seen in the former abbey church in Mozac (5kms east) or Notre-Dame-Du-Port in Clermont-Ferrand (15kms south), but they use the same "icons", that are so typical all over the Auvergne: sirens, griffons, eagles..

Another of these familar sights: The shepherds. Probably referring to the "Parable of the Lost Sheep" (Matthew, 18:12-14 / Luke 18:12-14). This shepherd-theme ("Pastor Bonus") can be found all over the Auvergne (Issoire, Biozat, Thuret..).

Here are two shepherds, on their knees. The sheep they have on their shoulders are pretty large - and have strange faces. On the very left the head of the demon/wolf can be seen, showing a row of scaring shark-like teeth.