Le Puy en Velay

If ever there was a city dominated by the church it has to be Le Puy en Velay. There are three rocky pinnacles that watch over the rooftops. The largest is home to the cathedral (a UNESCO world heritage site), the highest has a statue of the Virgin Mary and the third has the chapel St Michel d'Aguilhe built in the tenth century. We wandered the narrow cobbled streets and I couldn't help thinking that wherever you were you couldn't escape the feeling of being watched from above. I can imagine the townsfolk compelled to climb up to the cathedral when the bells chimed to attend mass. We went into the cathedral from the tiny streets behind, all was hushed and dimly lit and walked out through the main entrance into bright sunshine and a wonderful view to the medieval streets below. It was utterly magical.