Puy-en-Velay is embedded in a verdant setting where water and fire have sculpted astonishing natural scenery and where man has made the beauty of art triumph.

Historical treasures

The Upper Town of Le Puy-en-Velay contains in its protected area many historical and architectural treasures : in addition to the imposing cathedral built on the side of Mont Anis and classified by UNESCO, its cloister is worth a visit. It is one of the finest and best preserved Romanesque cloisters in Europe and dates from the 11th and 12th centuries. The nearby Hôtel-Dieu allows you to enjoy an interactive museum on the territory and new exhibitions. A walk in the Upper Town offers the visitor a complete look at the architecture of the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries and allows you to stroll on pleasant squares while admiring many very well preserved private mansions whose facades are both very colorful and worked.

European capital of Santiago de Compostela

The Saint Michel d’Aiguilhe chapel, a real treasure of Romanesque art from the 10th and 12th centuries, perched 88 meters high on top of a volcanic rock and The statue of Notre Dame de France which crowns the Rocher Corneille and watches over the entire city, contribute to the grandiose dimension of the site. European capital of Santiago de Compostela, the city offers pilgrims with Le Camino, a place of welcome and information as well as a museum-route on the theme of the Way of St. James.

A culinary emblem

Several festivals and many activities use heritage and street arts. These events punctuate the seasons of this amazing city. The Renaissance Festivals of the King of the Bird, in mid-September, bring together tens of thousands of participants and spectators each year. Culinary emblem, the famous Lentille Verte du Puy is today a renowned dish sublimated by the greatest chefs.

A town of lacemakers

Puy lace Sixteenth-century European fashion made lace a ubiquitous clothing accessory. Around 1860, there were 130,000 lacemakers in Haute-Loire for 300,000 inhabitants ! After 1900, hand lace declined, in competition with mechanization. The Atelier National Conservatoire de la Dentelle, created in 1976 under the supervision of the Ministry of Culture, maintains the techniques of bobbin lace and produces prestigious pieces on contemporary models.