Saint-Michel d'Aiguilhe (St. Michael of the Needle) is a chapel in Aiguilhe, near Le Puy-en-Velay, France. The chapel is reached by 268 steps carved into the rock. It was built in 969 on a volcanic plug 85 metres (279 ft) high. The surface on top of the plug is 57 metres (187 ft) in diameter.

Bishop Godescalc of Le Puy-en-Velay had the chapel built to celebrate his return from the pilgrimage of Saint James in 951. The chapel is dedicated to the Archangel Michael, the patron of mountaintops and other high places.

A prehistoric dolmen dedicated to Mercury by the Romans was built on the volcanic plug before the construction of the chapel. Three stones from this dolmen are said to be incorporated into the chapel.

In the 12th century, the chapel was enlarged, and a nave, ambulatory, two side chapels, a narthex, a carved portal, more frescoes, and a bell tower were added. The bell tower was built in the style of the nearby Cathedral Notre-Dame-du-Puy.

In 1...Read more

Saint-Michel d'Aiguilhe (St. Michael of the Needle) is a chapel in Aiguilhe, near Le Puy-en-Velay, France. The chapel is reached by 268 steps carved into the rock. It was built in 969 on a volcanic plug 85 metres (279 ft) high. The surface on top of the plug is 57 metres (187 ft) in diameter.

Bishop Godescalc of Le Puy-en-Velay had the chapel built to celebrate his return from the pilgrimage of Saint James in 951. The chapel is dedicated to the Archangel Michael, the patron of mountaintops and other high places.

A prehistoric dolmen dedicated to Mercury by the Romans was built on the volcanic plug before the construction of the chapel. Three stones from this dolmen are said to be incorporated into the chapel.

In the 12th century, the chapel was enlarged, and a nave, ambulatory, two side chapels, a narthex, a carved portal, more frescoes, and a bell tower were added. The bell tower was built in the style of the nearby Cathedral Notre-Dame-du-Puy.

In 1429, the mother of Joan of Arc, Isabelle Romée, was thought to have come to the site to pray.

Photographies by:
Espirat - CC BY-SA 4.0
W. Bulach - CC BY-SA 4.0
경성약학전문학교 - Public domain
Espirat - CC BY-SA 4.0
Pat343434 - CC BY-SA 3.0
Statistics: Position
96
Statistics: Rank
471702

Add new comment

CAPTCHA
Security
168457293Click/tap this sequence: 5756
Esta pregunta es para comprobar si usted es un visitante humano y prevenir envíos de spam automatizado.

Google street view

Videos

Where can you sleep near Saint Michel d'Aiguilhe ?

Booking.com
504.716 visits in total, 9.227 Points of interest, 405 Destinations, 486 visits today.