Our take
For the 360° view from the crown and the incredible story: 213 cannons from the Crimean War melted down into a statue of the Virgin.
A monumental 16 m Virgin at the top of the Rocher Corneille, cast from cannons taken at Sevastopol. 360° view from the crown.
You can't miss it: the Virgin and Child towers over Le Puy-en-Velay from the top of the Rocher Corneille, a basalt pinnacle at 757 m. The statue is 16 m tall (22.70 m with the base) and weighs around 835 tonnes. Painted red, it can be spotted from all over the town.
Its story is worth knowing. It was cast at Givors from 213 cannons taken at the siege of Sevastopol, during the Crimean War, then blessed on 12 September 1860. The sculptor, Jean-Marie Bonnassieux, was born in Panissières, in the neighbouring Loire département. Today it is the most visited monument in Haute-Loire.
Above all, you climb up inside. Expect about a hundred steps: 33 in stone, then a cast-iron staircase of 58 steps in the body of the statue, and a ladder of 16 rungs to reach the crown. From up there, a 360° view over the rooftops of Le Puy, the cathedral and the Rocher d'Aiguilhe. Adult ticket around €5 (check before you go).
Our take, frankly: the climb is narrow and not for the claustrophobic, but the view at the top is worth the steps. Bring good shoes and follow on with the cathedral down below.
Why we love it
- 360° view from the crown of the Virgin
- 16 m of red cast iron, 22.70 m with the base
- Cast from 213 cannons taken at Sevastopol in 1860
- Historic monument, the most visited in Haute-Loire
Top tip
Combine with the Rocher Saint-Michel d'Aiguilhe (700 m away) and the cathedral. Not for the claustrophobic (narrow staircase).
Before you go
- Adult ticket around €5, bank card accepted (check the price before you go)
- About a hundred steps then a ladder: avoid it if you are claustrophobic
- Opening times vary a lot with the season, and from mid-November to the end of January it opens only on Sunday afternoons: check before you go
- Go up in the late afternoon for the light on the rooftops and the cathedral
Weather for the next 3 days
Today
15°/4°
dry · 25 km/h
Tomorrow
15°/2°
dry · 5 km/h
Tue 27
21°/5°
dry · 12 km/h
Source: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0). General lowland forecasts, to be cross-checked with specialist mountain forecasts at altitude.
Practical info
- Address
- Rue du Cloître, 43000 Le Puy-en-Velay, France
43000 Le Puy-en-Velay
Opening hours
Closed right now
This place isn't open for now. We'll put the hours back online as soon as it reopens.
What visitors say
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It's for you if
- You want to climb inside a statue, all the way up to the crown
- You like a strong story: 213 cannons melted down into a statue of the Virgin
- You collect 360° views of Le Puy-en-Velay
Give it a miss if
- You are claustrophobic: the inner staircase is narrow
- You want to avoid steps: there are 122 of them in the statue
Your logbook
Around Notre-Dame de France statue
25 spots in and around Le Puy-en-Velay, enough to build your day.
Where to eat close by
€€Restaurant Les Flâneurs
4.8Le Puy-en-Velay · a 5-minute walk away
€€Comme à la Maison
4.7Le Puy-en-Velay · a 5-minute walk away
Mezia
4.8Le Puy-en-Velay · a 5-minute walk away
Where to stay nearby
Hikes nearby
Waymarked routes within 15 km, GPX track included.
Other activity
CyclingWorth a read
Articles and guides that mention this place.
Hikes around Notre-Dame de France statue
Other activityCycling
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