The city of Puy-en-Velay is located 45 minutes by car or train from Monistrol-sur-Loire. It is an essential step during your stay in the Gorges de la Loire in Haute-Loire. We advise you to plan at least one day to visit Puy-en-Velay and stroll through its busy and welcoming streets. So many exceptional monuments stand in this small town in Auvergne! There Chapel of Saint-Michel d'Aiguilhe, perched on its volcanic rock, faces the Puy Cathedral, departure and prelude on the way to Santiago and statue of Notre-Dame-de-France which also dominates the city.
Visit Puy-en-Velay 45 minutes from the Gorges de la Loire
Starting from Monistrol-sur-Loire, Bas-en-Basset or Aurec-sur-Loire, 2 possibilities are available to you: the TER St Etienne / Le Puy en Velay or the road with 2 options, the tourist route of the Gorges de la Loire or the national road 88. After 45 minutes of travel, you arrive at Puy-en-Velay. The view that emerges in the landscape is grandiose and its chapels and monuments built on rocks and volcanic necks are absolutely incredible!
The town of Le Puy-en-Velay bears an undeniable spiritual dimension that has spanned the centuries. Starting point of the road to Santiago de Compostela, Puy-en-Velay is as such listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. By taking the 8 km marked hike in the city center of Le Puy (yellow markings, PR 673), you will experience the first emotions of pilgrims leaving for Santiago de Compostela.
Surprising and original, the city is built in a volcanic basin. Its streets paved with dark stones, the facades of houses and monuments and especially its frozen lava rocks testify to the intense volcanic past!
Your steps will lead you from monuments to museums in the heart of the ponote city, classified City of Art and History : Saint-Michel d'Aiguilhe rock, Notre-Dame de France statue, Puy cathedral, Hôtel des Lumières, Crozatier museum, not forgetting the “Terre de Géant” attraction at the Saint-Alexis chapel. At nightfall in high season, Puy of Lights takes over by offering a free projected light show (pedestrian routes).
Pilgrim leaving for Santiago de Compostela, the journey of a lifetime
To discover in Le Puy-en-Velay
Taste the specialties of Puy-en-Velay
As a true gastronomic destination, Puy-en-Velay, and more broadly Haute-Loire, has fabulous culinary specialties including Le Puy green lentil (AOC) and the famous verveine digestive.
A detour to Place du Plot is a must on Saturday morning on the weekly market. Meet the local producers, you will fill up with charcuteries, local meats, Haute-Loire cheeses, fruits and vegetables from the corner and sweet treats typically Altiligerian and Auvergne!
The events of Puy-en-Velay
