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

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.

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! Inside the Cathedral Notre-Dame 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 crusade). The statue was burnt by furious revolutionists just outside the cathedral. Seen on top of the Rocher Corneille is the huge "Notre-Dame de France". It was made from 213 Russian cannons taken in the "Siege of Sevastopol" (1854–1855). This statue was probably a kind of "sorry" after the years of the Revolution Seen to the right is the 12th centry chapel "Saint Michel d'Aiguilhe" ("Saint Michel on the Needle").

When, about a decade ago, I took a break on my walk from Geneva to Conques in Le Puy, I had to "visit" one of the launderettes in town. The more and the longer I have travelled - the more I loved launderettes, as they are inmportant meeting and melting points. "Lav' Flash" was open already very early that morning.

"Notre-Dame de France" towers over the town since 1860. Seen as well from the street of the newer part of Le Puy are the bell tower and the dome of the cathedral.

In medieval times Le Puy has been a point, where pilgrims met, to follow the "Via Podensis" to Santiago de Compostella (-> 1600 kms). It still is! The mass begins at 7am and ends with the blessing of pilgrims. The pilgrims seen here, rushing to the cathedral are a little late already. This afternoon they will reach St. Privat-d'Allier about 22kms west. When I walked here in 2008 it was pouring down. The bad weather went on for days. The stretch between Le Puy and Conques was (for me!) the most impressing walk I ever did. Crossing the Aubrac is breathtaking! Utreia! www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rtny1-EawRQ

Le Puy has many tourists - and so as well really many restaurants. Of course most offer "Lentilles verte du Puy", but we already had them before (with Roquefort!). So this night, we had choosen the "A la 5eme saison", na nice restaurant near the cathedral. Parmentier de boudin noir aux deux pommes et sauce miel

Since the early (even pre-Christian) times Le Puy has been a center of pilgrimage. Le Puy was a centre of the cult of Our Lady, already Charlemagne made the pilgrimage to Le Puy twice. The cathedral is a complex Romanesque structure, kown for a wide variety of styles, located on the steep foot of the "Rocher Corneille". The most parts were erected within the 12th century, influenced by Byzantine architecture. After the French Revolution, that created much damage,the cathedral nearly fell in disrepair, what led to a radical and still very disputed renovation/reconstruction. The western façade is striped in courses of white sandstone and black volcanic stones. It is reached by a flight of sixty steps. The stairway finally ends inside the cathedral, in front of the high altar.

Since the early (even pre-Christian) times Le Puy has been a center of pilgrimage. Le Puy was a centre of the cult of Our Lady, already Charlemagne made the pilgrimage to Le Puy twice. Over centuries a miraculous original Black Virgin was adored here. The statue was given to the cathedral by Louis IX (Saint-Louis) on his return from Egypt (7th cruisade). This statue was burnt by furious revolutionists during the heaydays of the Revolution just outside the cathedral. The citizens of Le Puy probably bitterly regreted all the vandalism done in that times, what may have led to the erection of "Notre-Dame de France" on the top of the Rocher Corneille. The statue is 16 metres high and weights (including the massive bedestal) about 835 tons. 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. Le Puy was a centre of the cult of Our Lady, already Charlemagne made the pilgrimage to Le Puy twice. The cathedral is a complex Romanesque structure, kown for a wide variety of styles, located on the steep foot of the "Rocher Corneille". The most parts were erected within the 12th century, influenced by Byzantine architecture. After the French Revolution, that created much damage,the cathedral nearly fell in disrepair, what led to a radical and still very disputed renovation/reconstruction. I stayed in the "Gîte de la Prévôté", neighbouring the cathedral. Once the "Provost" resided here. The gîte is located on the third floor. From the window of my room I could see some of the capitals of the bell tower. Here is a crowned mermaid. She has lost one arm. Maybe she is the Queen if all bicaudal mermaids.

Since the early (even pre-Christian) times Le Puy has been a center of pilgrimage. Le Puy was a centre of the cult of Our Lady, already Charlemagne made the pilgrimage to Le Puy twice. The cathedral is a complex Romanesque structure, kown for a wide variety of styles, located on the steep foot of the "Rocher Corneille". The most parts were erected within the 12th century, influenced by Byzantine architecture. After the French Revolution, that created much damage,the cathedral nearly fell in disrepair, what led to a radical and still very disputed renovation/reconstruction. I stayed in the "Gîte de la Prévôté", neighbouring the cathedral. Once the "Provost" resided here. The gîte is located on the third floor. From the window of my room I could see some of the capitals of the bell tower, but unfortunately I could not decipher the insccriptions.

Since the early (even pre-Christian) times Le Puy has been a center of pilgrimage. Le Puy was a centre of the cult of Our Lady, already Charlemagne made the pilgrimage to Le Puy twice. The first time I really reached Le Puy was in summer 2008, when I walked from Geneva to Conques. I had been here be car before 2008, but that was just too easy. In 2008 I took a break here for a couple of days, before I continued the "chemin" and since then I feel "home" here. www.ipernity.com/doc/323415/album/393797 This time I stayed in the "Gîte de la Prévôté", neighbouring the cathedral. Once the "Provost" resided here. The gîte is located on the third floor.

Since the early (even pre-Christian) times Le Puy has been a center of pilgrimage. Le Puy was a centre of the cult of Our Lady, already Charlemagne made the pilgrimage to Le Puy twice. Seen in the forground is the 12th centry chapel "Saint Michel d'Aiguilhe" ("Saint Michel on the Needle"). In the backdrop, on the top of the Rocher Corneille, the huge "Notre-Dame de France". It was made from 213 Russian cannons taken in the "Siege of Sevastopol" (1854–1855). It may have been created, as during the Revolution furious revolutionists had burnt the statue of the miraculous Black Virgin, that was adored for centuries inside the Cathédrale Notre-Dame, seen to the right.

Since the early (even pre-Christian) times Le Puy has been a center of pilgrimage. Le Puy was a centre of the cult of Our Lady, already Charlemagne made the pilgrimage to Le Puy twice. From the 11th century on, this was one of the points from where pilgrims started their way to Santiago de Compostella. 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.

Le Puy was a major bishopric in medieval France, founded very early, though the early history is legendary. It was for sure already a place of worship in pagan times. 268 steps are carved into the rock and lead up to Saint-Michel d'Aiguilhe, erected in 969 on a volcanic plug 82 metres high. Bishop Gotescalc founded the chapel to celebrate the return from the pilgrimage of Saint Jaques. When the number of prilgrims climbing up grew in the 12th century, the chapel seen today was erected. People of course still walk up the steps to the chapel. As this is not that really easy, there is a defibrillator up there.

Le Puy was a major bishopric in medieval France, founded very early, though the early history is legendary. It was for sure already a place of worship in pagan times. The Cathédrale Notre-Dame-de-l'Annonciation in Le Puy was (and still is) the starting point of the Via Podensis, the pilgrim route that runs about 1600 kms to Santiago de Compostela. The first time I really reached Le Puy was in summer 2008, when I walked from Geneva to Conques. I had been here be car before 2008, but that was just too easy. In 2008 I took a break here for a couple of days, before I continued the "chemin". www.ipernity.com/doc/323415/album/393797 Since then it feels like "coming home", when I see Le Puy. This time I had choosen a chambre d'hôtes in the center of the old town. It was located in the house, where the Provost lived once, neighbouring the cathedral.

..reached Le Puy en Velay in the late afternoon. The Virgin on the left - the immense cathedral on the right. Noticed some snow in the mountains in the background...