A canon work
Built thanks to the melting of 213 cannons taken from the Russians during the siege of the city of Sevastopol during the Crimean War, the statue of Our Lady of France, perched 757 m on its crow rock of volcanic origin, watches over the town of Le Puy-en-Velay since 1860.
Sculptor's work Jean Marie Bonnassieux, it measures 22,70 m high and weighs 835 tons. Its realization is a real technical feat! The originality of the monumental statue lies in the positioning of the child. Unusual in statuary art, the Virgin carries the Child on her right arm so that he blesses the city without hiding his mother's face.
Completely restored in 2013, the Virgin has acquired new colors and welcomes visitors even to its crown after the ascent of 262 steps. It thus offers a breathtaking view of the city of Le Puy and extraordinary views of the cathedral, the old town and even the whole region.
Note that the climb to reach the monument is easily accessible on foot and has several rest points.
