Chapel St-Michel d'Aiguilhe, Le Puy-en-Velay, France
© Jaubert French Collection/Alamy Stock Phot
Chapel on the rock. Chapel on the rock
Pace yourself - you’ll need to climb 268 stone steps to reach the entrance of Chapel St-Michel d’Aiguilhe (Chapel of St. Michael of the Needle). This historic church near Le Puy-en-Velay, France, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that attracts visitors from around the world. It was constructed in 969 by a local bishop and dedicated to Archangel Michael, the patron saint of mountaintops. Even before the chapel was built, the site had spiritual significance, as it was home to prehistoric dolmen (stone tombs) built by the Romans to honour their god Mercury.
This time of year, you don’t necessarily have to climb the stairs to get a good view. If you’re lucky, you can hitch a ride from the many hot-air balloon pilots that take to the skies in early November. These enthusiasts gather in Le Puy-en-Velay each year for a festival that commemorates the anniversary of the first hot-air balloon flight.
Related Images
The chalk cliffs of Étretat, Normandy, France
Wai'anapanapa State Park black sand beach, Maui, Hawaii, USA
South Kaibab Trail in Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona, USA
Playa del Amor, Marietas Islands, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
Wat Sri Sawai in Sukhothai Historical Park
The North Atlantic island village of Saksun
The Old Fortress of Corfu
Meldon Hill, Dartmoor National Park, Devon, England
Today on Bing
Mount Crested Butte, Colorado, USA
Mack Arch Rock, Oregon, USA
