La Chaise-Dieu

Visit La Chaise-Dieu, Auvergne

La Chaise-Dieu is situated in the Haute-Loire department of the Auvergne, towards the south of the Livradois-Forez Natural Parc. Set on a hill in the characteristic gently rolling green landscape of the region, the village is best known for the historical monument it contains: the Abbey Church of La Chaise-Dieu, an important building that dominates the village.

The presence of an abbey here dates from the 11th century when it was founded by Robert de Turlande - canonised as saint-Robert in 1270. The abbey very quickly attracted pilgrims and remained a very important monastery for the region throughout the Middle Ages, only ceasing activity at the time of the French revolution.

Exploring La Chaise-Dieu and abbey

The current abbey church was built in the second half of the 14th century, and is a very substantial granite building. The medieval construction can be seen in the gothic style church and the attached cloisters. On the outside of the church the dominant features are the facade with its two towers, and the third tower above the other end of the building.

The cloisters adjoining the church are particularly interesting, with the arcades around the edges enclosed by columns supporting decorative stonework.

Inside the church you can see the extensive (26 metre long) 15th century fresco called the 'Danse Macabre',a fascinating work in three parts showing the rich and influential (such as cardinals), the leaders of the commuunity (such as merchants) and the ordinary people. The 'living' are being welcomed by the dead - the whole fresco representing the idea that we are all equal when it comes to death.

Photo shows part of the third Danse Macabre fresco (available under the GNU free documentation licence)

There are also various tapestries around the choir section, and the tomb of Pope Clement VI who trained here as a monk. Above the cloisters, the church treasury also holds some interesting items such as a large tapestry depicting the crucifixion.

Elsewhere in La Chaise-Dieu the village is focussed around the square in front of the church. There are a sprinkling of traditional buildings to admire around the small medieval centre of the village, several of them historically buildings connected with the abbey complex. The fountain in the centre of the main square dates from the 15th century.

A notable curiosity is the 17th century 'Salle de l'Echo' reputed to have the acoustic characteristic that two people can stand in opposite corners of the hall, speak quietly to each other and still be heard perfectly clearly. Useful in the Middle Ages when people with contagious illnesses wanted to confess to the monks, they say!

There is also a museum relating the life of monks in the 12th century, the life of Saint-Robert and the history of the abbey.

See Auvergne and Haute-Loire (the region and department for La Chaise-Dieu) for more travel ideas...

Suggested places to visit near La Chaise-Dieu, France

Distances shown are direct, driving distances will be greater.

More suggestions: Le Puy-en-Velay 34km; Usson 36km; Blesle 41km; Livradois-Forez Regional Park 42km; Issoire 43km;

La Chaise-Dieu tourist information: sights and attractions nearby

Eglise de Saint Georges (Saint-Paulien) - religious monument (20km) : Jardin de l’écomusée - remarkable garden (21km) : Basilique de Saint Julien (Brioude) - religious monument (25km) : Col des Pradeaux - site of natural beauty (25km) : Abbaye Saint-Andre (Lavaudieu) - religious monument (27km) : Eglise de Notre Dame de Mailhat (Lamontgie) - religious monument (31km) : Cathédrale Notre Dame et church de Saint-Michel (Le Puy-en-Velay) - religious monument (32km) : Le Puy en Velay Cathedral - national monument (34km) :

See more places and a map at places near La Chaise-Dieu