Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Saint Michel d'Aiguilhe

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").

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.

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.

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.