LANDSCAPES AND LOCAL HERITAGE Along the Stevenson Trail

Part 1: From the Velay hills to Langogne en Gévaudan. The region from Le Puy-en- Velay to Pradelles is volcanic. Its soil favours the farming of green lentils, which have a world- wide known quality label. When we reach Langogne we come upon another type of landscapes, soil and vegetation: granite soil, pine trees, fir trees, heather… At Le-Puy-en-Velay, RL Stevenson had the very first sleeping bag made!

LE PUY-EN- VELAY This little town (22 000) inhabitants lies in the core of an ancient volcano. Its cathedral dominates the town. To reach it, we have to walk up narrow, winding, steep cobbled streets leading to a flight of high steep stairs! Once youve reached the porch, there are still more steps…Impressive! Pilgrims have been attracted for many centuries by the « Black Virgin », Our Lady of Le Puy. It disappeared in 1794 and a replica was made from the archives of the XIIIth century. Since XIIth century, it has also been the starting point of the pilgrims route to Santiago de Compostela in Spain, along the « Via Podensis ».They walk for km. The cathedral is UNESCOs World Heritage

« The Rock »: the Chapelle St Michel dAiguilhe and the Chapelle Saint Clair Saint Michels little church was built in 962 after the safe return of the Bishop of Le Puy from a pilgrimage. It sits aloft an 85 metre high volcanic rock pinnacle, known as the « Aiguilhe ». It looks out over the rest of the town. It was built in classical medieval style. The chapel at the bottom is part of the whole church built on top of « the Rock. »

The Corneille Rock Platform of Notre Dame de France On top of a volcanic rock, not far from the cathedral and from the « Aiguilhe », the statue of Our Lady was erected in It was made out of the bronze of the 213 cannons captured from the Russians during the Crimean War. It is 22,70m high and it weighs 835 tons.

The Verveine du Velay building Created in 1859, the Verveine du Velay has been a symbol of Auvergnes gastronomie heritage. The Pagés family opened their doors to visitors to find out how that famous licor was made from 32 herbs!

Handmade pillow lace It has been known since the 15th century. The lacemakers use a pillow lace, called « carreau » and bobbins for the thread. To protect the lace cultural heritage, « the Bobbin Lace Centre » was created in It provides creation and also teaching lessons leading to a diploma of Arts. See the film in French on website: dex.php?page=diaporama dex.php?page=diaporama An English page is also available on the top left-hand corner.

L e Monastier-sur-Gazeille the village where Robert Louis Stevenson started from on his trekking journey This viaduct is an unfinished railway. Started in 1921, the project was abandoned in It draws a 325 metres in radius curvy ramp supported by 8 wide arches 25 metres wide and 70 metres high. It is home to the European bungee jumping centre. Over 50,000 visitors go there every year. The abbey castle made with black volcano stone dates back to 14th century. Le viaduc de Recoumène

SAINT-MARTIN-de-FUGIERES A very little village hardly no one would have ever heard about, were it not for Robert Louis Stevenson who walked through it…

GOUDET Peaceful village, except during the summer. It attacts loads of tourists to its campsites. The ruins of the castle of Beaufort, overlooking the young river Loire, the longest river in France. A strategic position for the lords of Goudet to watch over the valley against the invaders. It was built on a rocky spur 855 metres high.

USSEL A very, very little village… The church tower has several bells; its façade is typical of this region. Over the bells, notice the statue of the Madonna. Volcanic stone used for the walls.

The crater lake of « Le Bouchet » On top of a hilly place 1220 metres high. 44 ha; diametre:3 km ; 28 metres deep. Its depth is always even. There is no river flowing into it. When the volcano erupted, the magma never reached the surface. It met a phreatic layer and this meeting provoked the heating of a huge amount of water. The pressure made the water blow up the crust of the volcanic stone, thus creating the lake Alovely place for water activities in the summer.

Le Bouchet Saint- Nicolas Stevenson spent the night at an inn, in a house most likely like these.

PRADELLES (1) It is said to be one of the most beautiful villages in France. It culminates between 1150 and 1300 metres above Langogne and the river Allier. Pradelles was a fortified town of which we can see here the remains of the castle. Many houses have strange sculptures like the ones below: madness pain

PRADELLES (2) two examples of the many fountains that you can see while strolling around Pradelles. The wash house beside the new church

PRADELLES (3) In the old, narrow, winding streets you come upon this beautiful porch. The bas-relief tells the story of Jeanne de la Verdette throwing a large stone on to the leader of the Protestant assailants.

PRADELLES (4) Like all the places around this region, catholicism is very present through the incredible amount of churches, chapels,statues, wayside crosses along roads… HERE: the passers-by can admire statues of Madonnas on some of the houses walls…