Le Puy-en-Velay tourism and travel guide

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Places to visit nearby

Excursions & Activities

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Hotels & holiday rentals

Excursions & Activities

Visit Le Puy-en-Velay: highlights and tourist information

France This Way comment: The town of Le Puy-en-Velay is very interesting to visit and an important pilgrimage town, as seen in its many religious monuments and statues.

Le Puy-en-Velay is situated in the Haute-Loire department and Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region.

Tourist classifications for Le Puy-en-Velay include "recommended detour", "secteur sauvegarde" and "town of art and history". It is unusual for a town to have 3 awards, which indicates how important Le Puy-en-Velay is as a tourist destination!

Below you can see some of the places that we have visited and reviewed and can recommend when you are sightseeing close to Le Puy-en-Velay in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes.

Popular places to visit nearby include Allegre at 22 km and Pradelles at 30 km.

Le Puy-en-Velay, France: places to visit and attractions

Note that all distances below are 'direct' and real driving distances will be greater!

Arlempdes

Most Beautiful Village at 20 km (direction south)

Arlempdes is a very small village but the character of the village, the ruined...

See Arlempdes guide

Allegre

at 22 km (direction north-west)

Be sure to climb to the castle above Allegre to see the views after...

See Allegre guide

Pradelles

Most Beautiful Village at 30 km (direction south)

Both the picturesque historic village centre and the lovely viwes make Pradelles a highlight...

See Pradelles guide

La Chaise-Dieu

at 34 km (direction north-north-west)

The church, cloisters and Danse Macabre fresco in the abbey are the major attraction...

See La Chaise-Dieu guide

Lavaudieu

Most Beautiful Village at 42 km (direction west-north-west)

Lavaoudieu is listed among the most beautiful villages in France, and has the roman...

See Lavaudieu guide

Sainte-Croix-en-Jarez

Most Beautiful Village at 47 km (direction east-north-east), in the Loire department

Sainte-Croix-en-Jarez, now a 'most beautiful village in France' is unusual because it started life...

See Sainte-Croix-en-Jarez guide

Brioude

at 48 km (direction west-north-west)

Brioude is most visited for the Basilica Saint-Julien, the largest romanesque church in the...

See Brioude guide

Thueyts

at 48 km (direction south-east), in the Ardeche department

Thueyts is more 'renovated' than many of the Ardeche 'villages of character' and has...

See Thueyts guide

Desaignes

at 50 km (direction east), in the Ardeche department

The ramparts, medieval gateways and village centre are the highlights of your visit to...

See Desaignes guide

Meyras

at 50 km (direction south-east), in the Ardeche department

Smaller than many of the Ardeche villages, you will see an ancient covered passageway...

See Meyras guide

Antraigues-sur-Volane

at 52 km (direction south-east), in the Ardeche department

Antraigues-sur-Volane is a small medieval perched village, with most activity centred around its central...

See Antraigues-sur-Volane guide

Jaujac

at 54 km (direction south-east), in the Ardeche department

The most unusual characteristic in Jaujac is the deep river gorge running through the...

See Jaujac guide

Auzon

at 56 km (direction west-north-west)

The cobbled streets of Auzon wind up the hill from the river, passing an...

See Auzon guide

Saint-Etienne

at 59 km (direction north-east), in the Loire department

Originally an industrial town, regeneration of the Place Jean Jaures, the cathedral and the...

See Saint-Etienne guide

... or see ALL recommended places to visit in Haute-Loire

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Reserve excursions near Le Puy-en-Velay

Map of places to visit near Le Puy-en-Velay

Markets in and near Le Puy-en-Velay

Market days in Le Puy-en-Velay: weekly market: Wednesday & Saturday;

• Le Puy-en-Velay: market Wednesday & Saturday (0km)
• Chadrac: market Sunday (2km)
• Brives-Charensac: market Friday (2km)
• Polignac: market Wednesday (4km)
• Coubon: market Sunday (5km)
• Blavozy: market Sunday (7km)
• Lantriac: market Sunday (10km)
• Rosieres: market Saturday (13km)
• Saint-Julien-Chapteuil: market Monday (13km)
• Le Monastier-sur-Gazeille: market Tuesday (14km)

More information about Le Puy-en-Velay, Auvergne

Tourist attractions near Le Puy-en-Velay, France

What to do at Le Puy-en-Velay? Some places with official tourist classifications and other places of interest to visit nearby that should provide inspiration if you are visiting Le Puy-en-Velay.

Heritage sites

• Le Puy-en-Velay cathédrale Notre-Dame (monuments on French pilgrim routes) (0km)
• Le Puy-en-Velay Hotel-Dieu St Jacques (monuments on French pilgrim routes) (1km)

Most beautiful villages in France

(see also beautiful French villages)

• Arlempdes (20km)
• Pradelles (30km)
• Lavaudieu (42km)

Recommended detour towns (fr: plus beau détour)

• Vals-les-Bains (56km)

Regional Natural Parcs

• Monts d'Ardeche (48km)

Churches and religious monuments

• Prieuré de Saint Julien (Saint-Julien-Chapteuil) (13km)
• Eglise de Saint Georges (Saint-Paulien) (14km)
• Abbaye Saint-Andre (Lavaudieu) (48km)
• Basilique de Saint Julien (Brioude) (48km)
• Eglise de Notre Dame de Mailhat (Lamontgie) (62km)

Remarkable gardens

• Jardin de l’écomusée (39km)

Sites of natural beauty

• Cascade de la Beaume (11km)
• Lac du Bouchet (17km)
• Mont Gerbier de Jonc (34km)
• Cascade du Ray-Pic (41km)
• Mont Mouchet (41km)

Zoo and/or wildlife park

• Réserve de bisons d'Europe de Sainte-Eulalie (42km)

Geography and distances

Le Puy-en-Velay is in the southern-centre of France - it is the prefecture (capital) of the Haute-Loire department (general information: Le Puy-en-Velay is 440 kilometres from Paris).

Getting here

For driving distances to Le Puy-en-Velay from anywhere in France see driving distances and route planner.

We have 11 other places listed as being close (less than kilometres from ): Aiguilhe, Arsac-en-Velay, Brives-Charensac, Ceyssac, Chadrac, Chaspinhac, Coubon, Espaly-Saint-Marcel, Le Monteil, Polignac and Vals-Pres-le-Puy.

This page in French: Visiter Le Puy-en-Velay