The exceptional site of  Le Puy-en-Velay will amaze you in a thousand ways. The richness of its architecture testifies to a thousand-year-old historical past. With a preserved natural environment, Puy-en-Velay is an ideal place to discover a region shaped by volcanic activities; its volcanic landscapes is among the most astonishing, and its monuments among the most emblematic of France.

This Online walking tour will start from Place du Breuil, once large pastures that belonged to the Bishop of Le Puy. From there, we will head to the historic city centre, passing through the site of an ancient gate of the medieval fortified wall. Then we will go to the Town Hall, where dark events left an indelible mark in the history of the city, especially during the French Revolution. As we make our way to the official starting point of the Camino de Santiago, we will discover the most beautiful mansions that were built during the Renaissance. We will go through the market square and witness the sale of local produce like organic vegetables, farmhouse cheese, artisanal honey and even the famous green AOP du Puy lentils (now essential to the English court) at the well-known Farmers' Market. I will even introduce you to the famous Verveine du Velay, the work of lace makers.

Our next stop is Upper Town, which is historically the oldest part of town and was built by the 1st Gallo-Roman inhabitants. This district used to be reserved for the nobility who wanted to get closer to the religious power around the cathedral. We will end our visit in the footsteps of the Le Puy Cathedral, one of the most beautiful and original churches in France. There, we will also learn about the history of the Hôtel-Dieu, a centre of charity in the region since the 13th century.