Sometimes, it’s good to look at a map and explore the surrounding area. The great thing is that in Lyon, the surrounding area is neither remote nor secondary. Whether you head to neighboring Burgundy, the bordering Jura, or the adjacent Drôme, there are beautiful sights to see just a stone’s throw from Place Bellecour. This time, we’re heading southwest for another trip to Le Puy-en-Velay!
Le Puy-en-Velay, the “Mont-Saint-Michel of the mainland”
What strikes you when you look at Le Puy-en-Velay is, first and foremost, its verticality. It’s certainly a far cry from the Aiguilles de Chamonix or the Solutré rock, but this town defies the laws of gravity, all against a postcard-perfect backdrop.
When it comes to monuments, there’s no holding back—they’re everywhere! The most important and iconic are the statue of Notre-Dame de France (perched on its 130-meter-high promontory) and the Saint-Michel d’Aiguilhe rock (82 meters high). These two alone are enough to make your head spin. They soar into the sky and, like the village of Polignac, havea certain Lord of the Rings or Game of Thrones vibe. Add to this duo a thousand-year-old cathedral listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site (as part of the Routes of Santiago de Compostela), and you have, within an area no larger than a Lyon arrondissement, a concentrated showcase of our regional heritage with global appeal.
The destination to discover this spring for a weekend getaway
This thousand-year-old heritage and these dormant volcanoes can’t wait any longer—you have to go see them, and right away! That’s perfect timing, because Le Puy-en-Velay could very well be, like Annecy, Charolles, or Chamonix, the kind of town near Lyon that offers the perfect weekend getaway.
Spring is obviously the perfect season forhiking, and what better way to enjoy it than on the first stage of the Way of St. James? Along with Vézelay, “Le Puy” is a major stop on the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela. Here, you’ll come across plenty of hikers with backpacks!
