HAUTE LOIRE

GENERAL INFORMATION

Haute-Loire is a département in south-central France named after the Loire River and is  part of the current région of Auvergne, which is surrounded by the departments of Loire, Ardèche, Lozère, Cantal, and Puy-de-Dôme.  The department covers the upper reaches of the Loire.

Le Puy-en-Velay is the cultural heart and also the capital of the Haute Loire. This city has a very beautiful preserved medieval city centre with its renowned cathedral.

HISTORY

Haute-Loire was one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790. It was created from parts of the former provinces of Auvergne, Languedoc, and Lyonnais.

THINGS TO DO AND SEE

From the volcanic plateaus of Mont Mezanc to the Allier gorges, just about every outdoor activity is available here: walking, cycling, climbing, riding, fishing, hand-gliding, gold & even bungee-jumping.

There are many Renaissance churches & Black Madonnas found throughout the area. Carved in walnut or cedar wood, the Madonnas were supposedly brought back from the Orient by the Crusaders.

This département boasts some of the most stunning medieval villages.  The most attractive is probably Lavadieu, all hanging baskets of geraniums in summer with a romanesque cloister.

Brioude is a quiet, provincial town with one of the most beautiful romanesque churches in the Auvergne. The basilica of St Julien has a colourful exterior, a mixture of red sandstone, red and black basalt and pink and grey marble. Inside are 12th century frescoes, the best being in the St Michel chapel.

Behind the basilica, the Hôtel de la Dentelle, the lace museum, in a 15th century house is worth a visit.

Another often-neglected mention is the abbey church of St Robert in the village of La Chaise Dieu. Behind the tapestries, wall painting of the Danse Macabre and cloister, is the echo room where two people whispering in opposite corners can hear each other perfectly. The architectural device was installed for priests to hear the confessions from lepers, in days when the disease was rife.

The sanctuary town of Le Puy en Velay with its Cathédrale de Notre Dame is one of the wonders of medieval France. Approached from a distance, the town appears to have three peaks topped with a landmark church or statue.