The Auvergne #1

Last week we took a trip to visit our friend and my distant kinswoman, Geert Brigaud in Clermont-Ferrand.  This is an easy two-hour trip bus trip through beautiful countryside and into some mountains that require tunnels for the highway.  Geert met us at the bus station and drove us to her parking garage three floors below ground (with an elevator) and we walked to her apartment four floors up (without an elevator).  The apartment is beautiful, with excellent views of the UNESCO World Heritage Site:  Le Puy de Dome, as well as the amazing black Cathedral Notre Dame de l’Assomption at the center of the city.

After a fabulous four-course lunch at Geert’s, she drove us to Le Puy de Dome, where we took a cog railway to the top.  This is the site of an ancient Roman temple to the god, Mercury, which was rediscovered when the weather station at the top of the dome was being built.  Portions of the temple have been restored to it’s state when the Romans were there.

The white thing that looks like a version of the Saturn rocket is atop the weather station on the Dome.  I can't say what its exact function is.  I have read that it may be a broadcasting antenna for a TV station.  If so, it is obviously in a good location.

There was part of the front of the Roman temple that had been restored to look like the original, but I didn't get a picture of it.

Le Puy de Dome is an important European site for Hang Gliding.  It differs from the Gliderport at Torrey Pines in California in that at Le Puy de Dome, you launch from the top and use the ridge lift to fly near the mountain, but eventually, in most cases, land at a specified area near the base.  At Torrey Pines, the prevailing winds from the Pacific allow you to climb back up the launch area to land.

We unexpectedly encountered a flock of sheep grazing right at the top of the Dome.  I also saw flocks at the base.  I'm impressed with their climbing ability.

On our second day, Geert wanted to show us more of the beautiful Auvergne region.  The weather was beautiful as we drove along high ridges that gave us views of layers of mountains in the distance that reminded me of the Blue Ridge in North Carolina.

Our first stop was the ancestral home of the Marquis de Lafayette, Chavaniac-Lafayette.  The estate is large and the chateau itself is in amazingly good shape with surrounding gardens.  Marie-Joseph-Gilbert, whom we know as the Marquis de Lafayette, was only 16 when he came to America and helped us win the revolution.  He had already established his military credentials in France prior to that.  Incredible!!!

We then drove through some picturesque small villages in beautiful countryside to the town of Le Puy-en-Velay.  This beautiful town is situated on several hills (outcroppings).  One hill contains the old part of the city, topped by the Cathedral Notre Dame.  A smaller, but higher outcropping is topped by what I believe is the Chapel of the Penitents, and the highest holds the monumental red statue of Mary holding the baby Jesus. 

This street is a steep climb to the cathedral steps.  You can't see it until you get to the arched opening, but there are a few more flights of steps to actually get to the nave.  Whew!!  Fortunately the cathedral is totally worth the climb.

  

This is the view of Le Puy-en-Velay from the cathedral steps.  You can see how high it is.

This is the Chapel of the Penitents.  You actually have to climb another hill to get to the base of it.

The cloister of the cathedral is beautiful.  The capitals on the supporting columns are all different.

The gigantic statue of the Virgin holding Jesus is visible through various streets and alleys.  It is on its own separate granite outcropping.

There was also a treasure room in the cathedral which contained centuries-old chasubles, miters and other items that were magnificent, but the room was kept extremely dark to protect the valuables, so all of my hand-held photographs are all too blurry to post.

We have another day left in our trip, but I'll end this post here and pick up our examination of the city of Clermont-Ferrand in the next edition.

Check out Lorraine's blog:  Lorraineinlyon.blogspot.com  for her view of the trip.  She doesn't post nearly as many pictures as I do, so hers is easier to get through.  She also keeps up with our activities better than I do.