| Region: Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes Prefecture: Le Puy-en-Velay In the Haute-Loire, you will experience an alternative taste of southern France that includes heat without heat waves, plenty of space without pollution, mountains with abundant natural springs, sweeping horizons and the harmonious terrain of our green and well-preserved landscapes. These natural assets are watered by the young Loire, a wild river that takes its source just south of the department. Just like the pilgrims on the famous St. James Way, the salmon know exactly where they’re going, as they make the arduous journey from the Atlantic to the pure sources of the departements rivers. During a weekend stay or a longer holiday you can discover a rich religious and architectural heritage of the traditional villages, where you can visit some of the major bastions of the area's religious faith, and the Romanesque architecture built here over the centuries. Southern Auvergne is a surprising area, in which you will even find the first of the Loire chateaux, such as the Chateau de Lavoûte-Polignac. The "mountain" town of Puy-en-Velay is nicknamed "Le Mont Saint-Michel des terres" (Mont Saint-Michel on land). This town forged by the water and volcanoes went on to become a religious centre and the starting point for the Santiago de Compostela pilgrimage trail. Holiday Accommodation in the Haute-Loire Hotels, B&Bs, self-catering Haute-Loire Tourist Office |
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