Le Puy en Velay is the closest large town to Yssingeaux, and it is about a 45-minute bus ride at careening high speeds. I thought people only drove this aggressively and with total disregard of law in undeveloped countries. Well, apparently those driving habits extend to rural France. However, it is a beautiful drive and you pass the most fabulous castle on a cliffside overlooking a slow and winding river. Alas, I was not able to catch the castle on film because of the high rate of speed at which we were traveling.
Le Puy is a much larger city than Yssingeaux, which is basically just a farming village in comparison. We arrived just in time for the market, which is large and bustling. Apparently, the prices are all supposed to be cheaper than the supermarkets here which is not the case in America. And the French are very afraid of pesticides and such, so your socially imposed green conscience is tenderly nurtured here.
We bought ourselves the most delicious lunch in the market ad eventually found a bench to sit down on and eat our feast. First we had a scrumptious rotisserie chicken, succulent and moist, and the most fragrant skin. Of course, we had no utensils or napkins, so it was messy work.
For dessert we had a crusty, fresh baguette, beautiful and juicy raspberries, and a collection of 5 local honeys. Each of the honeys has a very distinct flavor, but so far we are unable to determine if the names on the jars are the kind of plant the bees pollinate or if its different regions. Either way, it was quite enjoyable.
After our protein-filled 10:45 AM lunch, we decided we were ready to begin our sightseeing. First stop was the cathedral, Norte-Dame du Puy. It is a Unesco World Heritage site, but unfortunantly everything was in French, so I know almost nothing about the importance of the cathedral except that its very important to the veneration of Mary. However, it was very impressive because you walk up a fairly steep hill and then up a number of steps to emerge in the middle of the nave of the cathedral. It is in Romanesque style and very beautiful.
Next, the statue of the Virgin Mary, or the Notre-Dame de France. It is another 134 steps up, but you have beautiful views of all of the surrounding valley. Once at the top, you then can climb an incredibly narrow spiral staircase inside of the virgin and look through tiny windows. However, the statue is made out of cast iron from captured cannons, it is unbelievably rickety, and the platforms are full of holes, so I did not spend too much time inside.
Our final tourist destination was Aiguilhe, the Rock and Chapel of St. Michael. It is on top of an old volcanic vent, that now towers above the city after years of erosion. This is an anniversary year for the Chapel of St. Michael; its 1050th anniversary. It is also the beginning of a pilgrimage that ends at Santiago de Compostela in Spain. The steps wrap around the pillar and it looks like it will be much harder to climb than it actually is.
Along the way, beautiful tiny succulents cling to the volcanic rock.
The chapel is lovely and small, and artists are nestled into every corner, catching Le puy from up high, or the spiritual essence of the ancient chapel.
To rest after the hours of walking, we stopped at a lovely sidewalk café and ordered crepes, organina, and café. I love crepes with burre and sucre. LOVE.
Oh, and of course, the bar L'Oklahoma. With pictures of cowboys and Indians. Why?
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