Le Puy-en-Velay

Le Puy-en-Velay is a city in the Haute-Loire department of the Auvergne region, set dramatically among the volcanic peaks of the Velay plateau. Its skyline is defined by the Rocher Corneille, a red basalt plug crowned by a massive cast-iron statue of the Virgin, and the Rocher Saint-Michel, a narrow volcanic needle topped by the Romanesque chapel of Saint-Michel d’Aiguilhe.

The Cathedrale Notre-Dame du Puy is the spiritual heart of the Via Podiensis, one of the four principal pilgrimage roads to Santiago. Its striped Romanesque facade, polychrome stonework, and venerated Black Madonna have drawn pilgrims since the tenth century. The historic centre, including the cathedral complex and surrounding medieval streets, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

For walkers beginning the Camino Frances from France, Le Puy marks the start of an 1,800-kilometre journey. The city’s pilgrim infrastructure is well established, and the departure ceremony at the cathedral each morning continues a tradition stretching back over a millennium.