Chapelle Saint-Michel

This very striking rock needle near Le Puy-en-Velay, crowned with a chapel, is dedicated to the Archangel Michael / Michel. After a strenuous day of pilgrimage it takes a little bit of effort to make the ascent here, but without exception all of our small group of pilgrims have conquered the steps and were thrilled by this simply designed Romanesque chapel, which offers a wonderful calm and prayer atmosphere .
About the patronage: The name Michael / Michel (coming from Hebrew) means "Who is like God?". He is often depicted - on paintings or as a statue - with a flaming sword, or occasionally a lance. Michael is - together with Raphael, Gabriel and Uriel - one of the four archangels who (according to human imagination) occupy the highest rank in the heavenly hierarchy of angelic beings. Their common feast day in the saints calendar is September 29th.

The episcopal city of Le-Puy-en-Velay in Auvergne is the starting point for French pilgrims on the Camino de Santiago. This has a very long tradition. In 950 GODESCALC, Bishop of Le-Puy-en-Velay, proclaimed the pilgrimage to the tomb of the Apostle James in Santiago de Compostella and, as a strong symbol of this, the Romanesque chapel of Saint-Michel d'Aiguilhe on the tip of a conical rock needle made of volcanic rock let build. This is still the unique landmark of this beautiful city today.

On one of the volcanic corners of Le Puy (in the district of Aiguilhe) between 950 and 970 built church. Godescalc, Bishop of Le-Puy, who is considered the first pilgrim of St. James, gave the impetus for the edification.
In the entrance building at the foot of the Neck, exhibitions inform about both the geological origin and the cultural background of the site.