Free walking tours in Le Puy-en-Velay and what to see

Must-sees

Le Puy-en-Velay rises in Haute-Loire amid a landscape of ancient volcanic peaks. The Romanesque cathedral of Notre-Dame, with Eastern influences, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the Routes of Santiago de Compostela in France. You reach it by a long flight of steps from the lower town, and next to it you can visit the cloister and the buildings of the cathedral complex. Close by, the Hôtel-Dieu, the old pilgrims’ hospital, has come back to life as a visitor space.

On the Rocher Corneille stands the great statue of Notre-Dame de France, with views over the red roofs. The best-known image is the chapel of Saint-Michel d’Aiguilhe, perched on top of a volcanic needle some 80 metres high and reached by a staircase cut into the rock. In the lower town, the Musée Crozatier has wide-ranging collections. Look out too for the bobbin lace workshops and the Le Puy green lentil, which has protected designation of origin.

Free tours and guided visits

There are no regular free walking tours in Le Puy-en-Velay. What you can book on Civitatis is a ticket for the cathedral complex, so you can explore the cloister and its spaces at leisure. The tourist office offers guided walking tours of the old town and the cathedral with qualified guides, and in season a tourist train climbs the steep streets.

How long to spend

A full day covers the essentials: in the morning the cathedral, the cloister and the streets of the upper town, and in the afternoon the Rocher Corneille and Saint-Michel d’Aiguilhe. If you want to add the Musée Crozatier and a trip around the Velay, such as the Polignac fortress, stay two days. Many pilgrims arrive the day before setting off on the Via Podiensis, the route to Santiago that starts at the cathedral.

Where to stay

The most convenient place to stay is the upper town or the centre, between the cathedral and Place du Breuil, so you can do everything on foot despite the slopes. There are plenty of small hotels, guesthouses and pilgrim hostels. If you are driving, the hotels on the outskirts and in Espaly-Saint-Marcel have easier parking.