Le Cloître de la cathédrale

The cloister of the cathedral of Le Puy-en-Velay, in the Haute-Loire, adjoining the north side of Notre-Dame, dates from the 12th century and is largely Romanesque. It was reserved for the canons. Its galleries, with arcades in polychrome volcanic stone, and its capitals, some figurative, show the evolution of styles. Its 12th-century grille is presented as a rare example of Romanesque ironwork. The cloister was restored in the 19th century, from 1842 to 1853 by the architect Mallay, then by Mimey until the early 20th century.

The visit leads to the chapter house, which keeps a 13th-century fresco of the Crucifixion, and then to the museum of religious art in the Machicolation building, with a rich collection of embroidered liturgical textiles from the 15th to the 19th century. The baptistery can only be visited with a guide. Guided tours on the building of the cathedral and cloister are offered in summer.

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