Historic site and monument
in Le Puy-en-Velay

Cathedrale Notre-Dame

The Cathedral of Puy-en-Velay, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1998, ranks 2nd favorite monument of the French in the program presented on France 2 by Stéphane Bern in 2015
After a first church built in the XNUMXth century, the cathedral was built on Mount Anis. In the XNUMXth century, the influx of pilgrims led to four bays being placed above a vaulted porch, to compensate for the slope of Mont Anis. The entrance was via a staircase which emerged in the middle of the central nave.
In the 1994th century, the building was considerably transformed, but the six domes and admirable painted decorations have been preserved. From 1999 to XNUMX, an overall restoration enabled the restoration of the central staircase closed in the XNUMXth century, the repair of the interior facings and the reassembly of the organ with its double-sided case from the XNUMXth century.
A new altar was placed at the crossing of the transept, while the altar of the "pilgrims", against the wall, bears the "Black Virgin" which replaced the primitive statue, burned during the Revolution.

See:
134th century cedar doors, murals, frescoes, statue of the Black Madonna, Pierre des Fièvres, paintings. Precious treasure in the sacristy: pietà, head of Christ from the XNUMXth century. Grand staircase of XNUMX steps to access the cathedral.
Further information) :
Daily evening entertainment, consult the website.
Pilgrim Mass at 7:00 a.m. from April to October every day
Mass at 7:30 a.m. from November to March, Monday to Friday at the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament
Mass at 10:30 a.m. every day from Monday to Saturday in the Chapel of the Relics
Mass at 10:30 a.m. on Sundays in the cathedral.
Tips and Suggestions

The Cathedral is Romanesque in style, but shows various influences especially Bysantine ones.
Under the main entrance, check out the “cedar doors” (the 12th century cedar doors) and the internal staircase (sometimes open in summer)
the first steps of which can be seen under the nave. The choir area of ​​the cathedral is built directly on the rock, but when the cathedral had to be enlarged in the 11th and 12th centuries in order to accommodate the increasing number of pilgrims, four additional bays were audaciously built over the void in order to compensate for the difference in level of 17 meters.
Several impressive pillars hold up the high arches.

We speak French

Themes:

  • Religious Heritage

Visit

Average duration of the individual visit: 60 min.
Average duration of the group visit: 60 min.
Minimum group size: 8 person(s)

Language(s) of the visit

Dutch, German, English, Spanish, French

Individual visit services

  • Unguided individual tours permanently

Group visit services

  • Unguided group tours permanently
  • Guided group tours on request

Opening

Opening hours from January 01 to December 31, 2024
MondayOpen
TuesdayOpen
WednesdayOpen
ThursdayOpen
FridayOpen
SaturdayOpen
SundayOpen
From November to March the Cathedral is open from 7:00 a.m. to 19:00 p.m.
April to October: open from 6:30 a.m. until 19 p.m.,
from July 15 to August 15 closed at 22 p.m.

Prices

Free

Services

Home animals

Pets are not accepted

Adapted tourism

Physical disability

Admission is free for the person with a disability and an accompanying person. As it is extremely difficult, if not impossible, to go up to the Cathedral in a wheelchair, people with reduced mobility are allowed to come by car all year round and park right next to the PMR entrance (information obtained from of the Sacristy 0471059874

Please note that the cloister is unfortunately not accessible.

Address

Forum Square
Forum Square
43000 Le Puy-en-Velay
How do I get there?

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