Memory of Stones
Notre Dame du Puy en Velay Cathedral
The Notre-Dame-de-l'Annonnement cathedral in Puy-en-Velay is a major monument of Romanesque art and of the Christian West. It was erected into a minor basilica by a brief apostolic from Pius IX on February 11, 1856.
The cathedral is classified as a historical monument by the 1862 list (cloister, university, cathedral) as well as a classification in 1889 (buildings of machicolations).
It was inscribed in 1998 on the list of world heritage by UNESCO under the roads of Saint-Jacques-de-Compostelle in France.
In addition to this, you need to know more about it.
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In 950, the bishop of Puy Godescalc was the first pilgrim to make the way to Saint Jacques de Compostelle.
After its return, Le Puy becomes the starting point for one of the most important routes to Galicia (via Podiensis).
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Erected in the 12th century, the cathedral is unusual because of the diversity of its styles, and testifies to the past richness of Romanesque art.
By its cupolas on pendants in a row, the cathedral of Puy-en-Velay is strongly influenced by Byzantine architecture, and in this it is strongly reminiscent of other churches in southwestern France, such as the Saint-Front cathedral in Périgueux or the Saint-Etienne cathedral of Cahors
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We are impressed by the height of the six domes, the abundance of vaults which crown it and by the vaulted base on which it rests.
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In plan, this church takes the form of the Latin cross and includes a six-bay nave, to which are joined two aisles of the same height, a projecting transept, each arm of which ends in two twin apsidioles, above which there is a platform; the building ends with a rectangular apse flanked by two apses with flat apse.
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The remarkable pulpit is from the end of the 18th century.
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The organ is suitable for the interpretation of works from the 17th and 18th centuries, and even from the 19th century.
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This instrument is a rare example of a double facade organ in France.
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The Black Madonna
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The 17th century statue that is currently on the high altar comes from the old chapel of Saint-Maurice du Refuge.
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It is shown to the faithful in the streets of the city of Le Puy during Marian processions, every August 15, with more marked solemnities during the Marian jubilee years specific to Puy, two or three times a century, for example in 2005.
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