Cathédrale Notre-Dame-du-Puy

Facade
The monumental facade of the cathedral, almost entirely geometric, transitions between the bustling city and the serenity of the sacred place. It stands out for its polychromy, alternating between dark and light bands at its base and black-and-white checkerboard or fish-scale motifs in its mosaics. At the top, a red-and-white pleated ribbon completes this remarkable composition. The staircase and portico, located on Rue des Tables, reinforce the majestic character of this entrance.

The Black Virgin
The cathedral's high altar houses a statue of the Black Virgin dating from the 17th century, a masterpiece of local religious heritage. This statue, which came from the former Saint-Maurice chapel, was crowned on June 8, 1856, in honor of the previous effigy destroyed during the Revolution in 1794.

The Cloister
The Romanesque cloister of the cathedral, built in the 11th and 12th centuries, is considered one of the most beautiful in Europe. Its arches are decorated with contrasting-color mosaics of diamonds – white, red, and black. The chapter hall, formerly a meeting place for canons, is adorned with a 13th-century fresco of the Crucifixion, marked by strong Byzantine influence.

The cloister also preserves a remarkable series of carved capitals from the 12th century as well as an iron forge grille from the early 13th century.