Category: Via Podiensis

The Cathedral of Le Puy has the most amazing and moving entrance onto the Camino of any place I’ve ever been. Following the Pilgrims’ Mass and the blessing, the floor of the cathedral’s nave opens up. The pilgrims walk down the stairs to the cathedral’s main entrance and directly onto the Camino route. It is an unforgettable beginning. Date: 18 […]

The next day, the 18th of August, 2023, I attended the morning Pilgrims’ Mass at the Cathedral. From here, I set out upon this great adventure. Here is my first step towards the opening gate of the Camino – the single step that begins the journey of a thousand miles. Tomorrow I’ll try to post the video of the opening […]

The original Black Virgin of Le Puy, carved of ebony and thought variously to date back to anywhere between the third and sixth centuries, was looted and then burned by the revolutionaries in 1794. As it was burning, a hidden drawer popped open and a slip of parchment fell out into the fire. Nobody bothered to see what it said. […]

Downtown Le Puy is full of little shops. I drifted from the book shop to the hat shop, stopping at various other little places along the way. While I didn’t actually buy anything but some postcards and a fridge magnet, I also made a point of not stopping in the shop on the left here. And I was only saved […]

After leaving Saint Michel d’Aiguilhe I headed out to explore the town. Of course, the first place I spotted was a bookstore. Le Puy is very much a tourist hotspot, and the streets of the old town are packed with charming little shops and cafés. Date: 17 August 2023 Place: Le Puy-en-Velay, Haute-Loire Département, Region of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France Maps!

Just one last photo in the church of Saint Michel d’Aiguilhe before we head back to town. In addition to yesterday’s ceiling, the walls of the old church are covered in brilliant, if badly deteriorated, painting throughout. This is one of my favourite bits. It’s not a great photo, as the place is shadowy and dim, but I saw this […]

The vaulted and domed ceiling over the sanctuary of the church of Saint Michel d’Aiguilhe retains much of its original tenth century paint. It depicts Christ on His throne, surrounded by angels and saints. The symbols of the four Evangelists are at the corners, and Saint Michael is depicted slaying the dragon. In person, it’s awe-inspiring. Every tourist and pilgrim […]

The tenth century sanctuary of the church of Saint Michel d’Aiguilhe is more or less the original square chapel, though as you can see it has some twentieth century furnishings in its altar and ambo. That’s ten centuries looking back at you. The area above the sanctuary is domed, and the medieval paintings are breathtaking. Photo coming tomorrow! I prayed […]

Because the church of Saint Michel d’Aiguilhe must conform to the basic geography of the needle on which it perches, the interior layout is a trifle eccentric. As you step inside, the 12th century nave curves around the edge of the peak, culminating in the sanctuary. The current sanctuary is the original square 10th century chapel, and it is accessed […]

This view is looking up the ornamented archivolt above the doors and up to the façade of the church. Without a drone, it’s difficult to get a good photo – there’s no place to back up to if you want a different angle! The art is amazing – pretty good for the “dark ages” of the 12th century, when this […]