User:Atani/LePuy en Velay

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Le Puy-en-Velay is a commune the Auvergne region, prefecture of the department of Haute-Loire, and capital of the county of Velay in south-central France near the source of the Loire river. The city has long been an administrative, commercial, and religious center and is most famous for its cathedral, a local kind of lentil, and for its lace-making tradition. Le Puy is also an important starting point on the French Way of St. James (Camino Francés) and the origin of the Way of St. Giles (Régordane) and has long been an important pilgrimage center in its own right.

Toponymy
Le Puy-en-Velay (Lo Puèi de Velai ). On 10 March 1988 the town's traditional name was changed by official decree from Le Puy to Le Puy-en-Velay by the Ministry of the Interior. At the same time in the Occitan and Auvergnat languages the town became Lo Puei of Velai ( [lu ˈpoj ðə vəˈlaj]). The town's name Le Puy comes from puy a modification of the Latin word podium meaning a "high mountain." From this comes ponots, or podots the traditional name of the inhabitants of the town. Several other towns in France have "Puy" as an element in their names.

Location
Le Puy-en-Velay is located in the center of the department of the Haute-Loire in the south-east of the Auvergne region. The city is 83miles (134km) from Lyon, 79miles (127km) from Clermont-Ferrand, 47miles(75km) from Valence and 47miles (75km) from ﻿|Saint-Etienne. Despite its membership in the region of Auvergne, Le Puy-en-Velay looks more toward the neighboring Rhone Alps region and more particularly toward Saint-etienne than toward Clermont-Ferrand. The town is connected to Saint-Etienne by four-lane highway, and only a two-lane highway to the capital of the Auvergne.

The town itslf is situated around the slopes of a steep hill at the junction of three valleys watered respectively by the rivers Borne, Dolaizon, and Loire. At the top of that hill, Mt. Anis, sits Le Puy Cathedral and above that the massive basaltic outcropping called the Corneille. The oldest parts of the town sit in a natural amphitheater on the southern slopes of the hill and is bordered by the rivers Borne and Dolaizon. The Borne crosses from generally west to east at the northern limits of the town and empties into the Loire a mile and a half downstream at Chadrac. The river Dolaizon joins the Borne on the east edge of town.

Geology
Le Puy is set in the rugged and hilly terrain of the east central Massif Central dominated by ancient volcanic geology, steep valleys with swift flowing steams. The town of Le Puy rests entirely within the eroded remains of the caldera of an extinct volcano. The unique basalt outcroppings that dominate the landscape and server as bases for the towns most famous architecture are in fact volcanic necks formed over two million years ago exposed over time by erosion.

Climate
The climate type of Le Puy is semi-continental but with cold winters, especially when burle wind blows. The highest temperature recorded was ( 38.8 Â°C) 5 August 2003, the record of cold temperature { {tmp| -23.3 | °C} } ), was set February 15, 1956. The average annual temperature is { {tmp|8.9 | °C} }.

The measures below have been taken to the station of the Puy-Loudes (830m), they thus differ slightly from the measures that may be identified in the city center. The records of heat of June, July and August are derived from the station of the Puy-Chadrac, which overlooks the city.

Administrative Divisions
Le Puy has long been an important administrative center in France and in modern times has been simultaneously the prefecture (or capital), and chief-place (chef-lieu), of all of the various administrative divisions from Department to the Arrondissment to the Canton, all the way down to the communes themselves.

Since the implementation of the Cantonal Reform of 2014, redistricting has changed the number of Cantons in the Department of Haute-Loire from 35 to 19 and the term "Coordinating Office" (Bureau Centralisateur), has replaced "Chief Place of the Canton" (chef-lieu de canton).

The Arrondissement of Puy-en-Velay contains five of Haute-Loire's sixteen cantons:


 * Le Puy-en-Velay-Est, 4 communes: Blavozy, Brives-Charensac, Le Puy-en-Velay, Saint-Germain-Laprade.
 * Le Puy-en-Velay-Nord, 7 communes: Aiguilhe, Chadrac, Chaspinhac, Malrevers, Le Monteil, Polignac, Le Puy-en-Velay
 * Le Puy-en-Velay-Ouest, 3 communes: Ceyssac, Espaly-Saint-Marcel, Le Puy-en-Velay
 * Le Puy-en-Velay-Sud-Est, 3 communes: Arsac-en-Velay, Coubon, Le Puy-en-Velay
 * Le Puy-en-Velay-Sud-Ouest, 2 communes: Le Puy-en-Velay, Vals-près-le-Puy.

Twin Towns
Le-Puy-en-Velay is twinned with the following towns:
 * 🇩🇪 Meschede, Germany
 * 🇬🇧 Tonbridge, United Kingdom
 * 🇪🇸 Tortosa, Spain
 * 🇮🇹 Brugherio, Italy
 * 🇵🇹 Mangualde, Portugal

Festivals
In historically Catholic France many processions celebrating events in the Roman Catholic liturgical calendar continue to this day. Jubilee Jubilee. This occurs when 25th March, the feast of the Annunciation, coincides with Good Friday, so that the Incarnation coincides with the Redemption. The last Jubilees was in 2005 and the next one will take place in 2016.

Procession of Every Maundy Thursday, after the evening Mass commemorating the Last Supper, the White Penitents follow the Way of the Cross through the old town, meditating as they go, in memory of Christ's passion.

Maundy Thursday

On the evening of the 31st May, the feast of the Visitation, a torchlight procession walks up to the top of the Corneille Rock.

The feast of the Assumption on 15th August culminates in the afternoon procession when the statue of the Black Virgin is carried through the town.

Fêtes du Roi de l'Oiseau
Each year, the third week of September, are organized large Renaissance feasts called Feast of the King of the Bird, in reference to an ancient tradition (the game of the papegai) or the winner of a tir (to the arc) to the bird became for a year king of the city.

Personalities linked to the common
Heraldry

See as well
Bibliography Related articles external links

Notable or Historic Buildings and Monuments
For its size Le Puy is particularly blessed with historically significant buildings and monument with 84 buildings with at least one protection as historical monuments, or 17% of the historic buildings of the entire department of Haute-Loire. This makes Le Puy-en-Velay 28th city in France with the most historical monuments. A complete list of these can be found at French Wikipedia.

Liste des monuments historiques du Puy-en-Velay

Churches and Religious Structures
An early and important bishopric

Le Puy Cathedral
Le Puy-en-Velay's most striking attraction is the cathedral Notre-Dame l'Annonciation, dating chiefly from the first half of the 12th century. The façade, striped in courses of white sandstone and black volcanic breccia, is reached by a flight of sixty steps, and consists of three orders, the lowest composed of three high arcades opening into the porch, which extends beneath the first bays of the nave. Above it are three central windows that light the nave, and above them are three gables on the gable-end of the nave, flanked by two openwork screening gables. The south transept doorway is sheltered by a Romanesque porch. Behind the choir rises a separate Romanesque bell-tower in seven stories. The bays of the nave are roofed by octagonal cupolas, the cupola at the crossing forming a lantern; the choir and transepts are barrel vaulted. The striking parti-colored cloister is connected to remains of 13th-century fortifications that separated the cathedral precincts from the rest of the city. Near the cathedral, the 11th-century baptistery of St John is built on Roman foundations. Each morning, pilgrims gather to be blessed before starting their journey to Santiago de Compostela. The cathedral has been a Unesco World Heritage Site since 1998, as part of the "Routes of Santiago de Compostela in France".

Other Notable Churches

 * Church of Saint Laurent -
 * Convent of Saint-Claire -
 * Church of Saint Georges - ancienne chapelle du collège des Jésuites du Puy
 * Church of Saint Pierre des Carmes - ancienne église des Carmes
 * Chapel of Saint Georges - chapelle du Grand séminaire
 * L'Hôtel-Dieu -

Town Wall
The town of Le Puy was circumvallated in the 13th century by the bishops of Le Puy and the counts of Velay. The wall was eventually demolished in 1782 during the reign of Louis XVI. A double enclosure of the city was created one surrounding the town itself and an inner enclosure (French: ‘’enceinte du cloture’’) protecting the cathedral and episcopal palace. The path of the outer wall can still be easily seen on the map as it traces the courses of the main modern roads of the town: boulevard Carnot, boulevard Saint-Louis, boulevard du Breuil, boulevard Maréchal-Fayolle and the rue de Faubourg Saint-Jean. Fragments of the fabric of the former wall still exist in places having been incorporated into more modern developments over the years. The Pannesac Tower was one of the gates to the outer enclosure and the Gate of St George was an entrance to the inner enclosure.

REF- “Le Puy en Velay, Historical Visit”; Ofice de Tourisme, Communauté d’Agglomèration du Le Puy-en-Velay, http://www.culture.gouv.fr/public/mistral/merimee_fr?ACTION=CHERCHER&FIELD_1=REF&VALUE_1=PA00092813

Pannessac Tower The 13th century corbeled tower at rue Pannessac (formerly the rue du Commerce des Grains) was part of the former royal entrance to the town until partly demolished to widen the entrance to the street in 1850. The footprint of the demolished tower and several of stones of the wall itself is retained in the pavements of the cobbled sidewalk. REF - Pannessac Tower: http://www.culture.gouv.fr/public/mistral/merimee_fr?ACTION=CHERCHER&FIELD_1=REF&VALUE_1=PA00092813 PHOTO: <>

Porte de ville Porte Saint-Georges - City Gate Saint-Georges The door Saint-Georges is part of the second. She gave passage to the street of the same name. There is still a base of very large blocks, perhaps romans, which are located approximately two meters from the ground. On one of the sides, a Poterne des gives the former sol also indicates by the location of the gongs. The thickness of the bulwark is approximately 1m30. Inside, a row of crows laying slabs increases the width of the path of round. The width of the gate is 3, 22 meters. This book has been built in 1237. REF - Port St Georges:  http://www.culture.gouv.fr/public/mistral/merimee_fr?ACTION=RETROUVER&FIELD_1=d%e9partement&VALUE_1=43&FIELD_2=domaines&VALUE_2=%27MONUMENTS%20HISTORIQUES%27&NUMBER=23&GRP=3&REQ=%28%2843%29%20%3aDPT%20%20ET%20%20%28%28%27MONUMENTS%20HISTORIQUES%27%29%20%3aDOMN%20%29%29&USRNAME=nobody&USRPWD=4%24%2534P&SPEC=9&SYN=1&IMLY=&MAX1=1&MAX2=100&MAX3=100&DOM=Tous

Statue of Notre-Dame de France
The iron statue of Notre-Dame de France (The Virgin Mary) overlooking the town was designed by the French sculptor Jean-Marie Bonnassieux, and is made from 213 Russian cannons taken in the Siege of Sevastopol (1854–1855). It was presented to the town on 12 September 1860 in front of 120,000 people.

Statue of General Lafayette
The Marquis de Lafayette (1757–1834) of American and French revolutionary fame is considered to be one of the most respected and well loved natives of Haute Loire. He was born at the Château de Chavaniac only a few miles west of Le-Puy. This bronze statue in his honor was erected by the municipality in 1883. Waving the tricolour rondel in his upraised right hand Lafayette is carry the message patriotic and humanitarian of Liberté, égalité, fraternité. The statue was due to sculptor Eugene Hiolle and the stone base was the work of architect Antoine Martin. Hiolle’s realism of anatomical study and costuming is typical of French neoclassical monumental sculpture of the second half of the 19th century.

Fountain Crozatier
Fountain Crozatier is also a beautiful sight in the centre of the town.

Crozatier Museum
Musée Crozatier

Other Monuments in the arrondissment of Le Puy
Saint Michel d’Aiguilhe - Aiguilhe 500 meters north of Notre-Dame de France Chapelle Saint-Clair- Aiguilhe Located 1200ft 400meters north of the cathedral in Aiguilhe. Commune d'Aiguilhe, près du Puy-en-Velay (préf. de la Haute-Loire, France). Sur cette placette à l'entrée du bourg, on reconnaît, de gauche à droite : l'ancienne mairie, la croix monumentale en pierre du XVe siècle, la Chapelle Saint-Clair (XIIe siècle, octogonale), et une fontaine pseudo-gothique du XIXe siècle.

Sanctuaire de Saint Joseph - Espaly-Saint-Marcel One mile (1500meters) west of the Le Puy Cathedral in Espaly-Saint-Marcel. Châeau de Polignac - Polignac Three miles from Le Puy are the ruins of the Château de Polignac, one of the most important feudal strongholds.

Notable Events
Rescue of Lafayette Statue (French: l'enlèvement de La Fayette) During the Second World War Hitler ordered Case Anton to occupy the unoccupied southern zone of Vichy France in reaction to the Allied landings in North Africa on 8 November 1942.

REF: [Deist, Wilhelm; Klaus A. Maier; et al. (1990). Germany and the Second World War. Oxford University Press. p. 78. ISBN 0-19-822884-8.]

As part of their general policy of occupation the german regime decided to remove the bronze statue of General Lafayette and melt it down for scrap for use in war production. The statue was removed from its stone base in 1943 and stored locally in the yard of one Henri Vinay. On the night of 17-18 December ten local men attempted to abduct the statue but were foiled by the appearance of a German patrol. On the night of the 22-23rd a larger band of seventy men succeeded in liberating the statue with blacksmiths opening the gates to the yard and the men loading the 1000kg stature onto a truck. In order to avoid detection by the sound of starting the truck, the group simply pushed the vehicle down the street before starting the motor. �The statue was taken to the sheep farm of Felix Bernard 11km to the south in Montagnac where a hole had been prepared in advance to bury it for safe keeping. The statue remained there undetected for two years concealed by a sheep rack and a pile of manure. After the liberation of France the local Resistance replaced the statue on 2 December 1945 on its original base at boulevard Saint-Louis in front of a crowd of 6,000.

REF: PHOTO: File:FR-43-Le Puy31.JPG

Royal Visitations
Thirteen French kings are recorded as have made the pilgrimage to the town including the Emperor Charlemagne twice in 772 and 800. Louis IX made the pilgrimage in 1254 upon returning from the 7th Crusade

In 1254 King Louis IX, returning from the crusades, completed the seal of Le Puy by granting the town the right to add gold fleurs-de-lys on a blue background to the flying eagle in silver.

The last royal visit was that of Francis I in 1533, to fulfil the vow he had made when he was a prisoner in Madrid after his defeat at Pavia (1525).

Doggie Pile
(formerly the rue du Commerce des Grains). There are still many houses dating from the 15th to the 18th centuries here. Number 16 still has a 15th century corbelled tower overlooking the ruePhilibert

Reference Heap
REF: “Le Puy en Velay, Historical Visit”; Ofice de Tourisme, Communauté d’Agglomèration du Le Puy-en-Velay,

Étymologie 'Podium' et 'Puy' [archive], dans Monde primitif, analisé et comparé avec le monde moderne de Antoine Court de Gébelin, 1787. https://books.google.fr/books?id=r9Y_AAAAcAAJ&pg=PR212&lpg=PR212&dq=puy+podiu+montagne&source=bl&ots=YvyyGLtvFP&sig=FElSSi-dbnZ3g-TcutbkWHQPqOY&hl=fr&sa=X&ei=rkCWUpbZPKWs0QX9voGICQ&ved=0CD8Q6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=puy%20podium%20montagnes&f=false