Things to see and do Le Puy-Notre-Dame

This majestic edifice, built on top of a limestone hillock, rises to 106 metres and rests on the foundations of an ancient Romanesque church. Eleanor of Aquitaine ordered its construction in the first half of the 13th century, and it was built in one go, something extremely rare for the time when works were generally built bit by bit, often requiring several centuries to complete. The collegiate church is inspired by the plan of Poitiers cathedral, which also has three very slender naves. The church thus offers a mixture of Poitevin and Angevin Gothic styles. An architectural and artistic ensemble that can also be admired at night, when the site is illuminated by beautiful ground lighting. Named collegiate church since 1478, when Louis XI instituted a college of canons, the interior has very beautiful 16th century sculpted stalls as well as a painting of the Assumption by Jean Boucher. There is also a relic, "the belt of the Virgin", a piece of cloth brought back from the crusades which was often believed to have the power to promote fertility and the birth of male children. For this reason, the building became a popular place of pilgrimage on the route to Santiago de Compostela. A staircase allows you to discover the frame and the surrounding panorama. If you have time, a visit to the village gives you the opportunity to discover several 15th and 16th century houses.