CLOISTER AND TREASURES OF THE CATHEDRAL OF PUY
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Cloister of Le Puy-en-Velay cathedral, housing a museum of religious art with a large collection of embroidered liturgical textiles.
Among the many treasures of Le Puy-en-Velay cathedral, it's hard not to fall under the spell of the cloister. Although the church was founded in the5th century, this architectural masterpiece was built in the 11th and 12th centuries. A major pilgrimage site in connection with the Virgin Mary, the sanctuary soon became an important crossroads for pilgrims on their way to Santiago de Compostela. The cathedral chapter, a prestigious community of 40 to 60 canons, testifies to the power of this "international" sanctuary, which was then endowed with a precious cloister. This space, enclosed by four colorful galleries, was reserved for the cathedral's canons. The cloister is a sublime legacy of Romanesque art. Its polychrome arcades are surmounted by oriental-inspired mosaics. They coexist harmoniously with a large series of 154 figured capitals, not forgetting the particularly impressive sculpted cornice, filled with angels, foliage and fantastic creatures... It was listed as a historic monument in 1862. Restoration work began in the 15th century, but both the Romanesque decor and the architecture have been rebuilt in the original spirit of the buildings. There are, of course, period frescoes, such as the one in the chapter house depicting the Crucifixion (13th century) and the historiated capitals (12th century). Don't miss a visit to the museum of religious art.
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