CROW ROCK AND OUR LADY OF FRANCE STATUE

The Virgin and Child dominates the town, offering calm, strength and serenity. The colossal cast-iron statue has dominated the town of Le Puy-en-Velay since 1860. The project dates back to 1853, thanks to numerous donations and a national subscription campaign. For the material, 213 cannons taken at the Battle of Sebastopol were melted down. Taken from the Russians by General Pélissier, they were handed over by Napoleon III to the bishop of Le Puy-en-Velay and melted down at the Prénat factory in Givors (Rhône). Notre-Dame-de-France was inaugurated on September 12, 1860 in front of 120,000 pilgrims. It remained the world's tallest statue until 1886, when it was dethroned by the Statue of Liberty in New York. Its sober, brick-red color is a real eye-catcher. Another distinctive feature is that it holds the Child in its right arm, whereas it is traditionally in the left, so that it can bless the city with its right hand without obscuring its mother's face. Completely restored in 2013, the Virgin has acquired new colors and welcomes visitors up to her crown after climbing 262 steps. The climb up to the monument is easily accessible on foot and features several rest points, a fountain, sanitary facilities and a souvenir store. It offers a breathtaking view of the town of Le Puy and extraordinary vistas of the cathedral, the old town and even the whole region, with an orientation table from its 757-metre height. It measures 22.70 metres including the pedestal and weighs 835 tonnes in total (110 tonnes for the statue, 680 tonnes for the stone pedestal and 45 tonnes for the iron cladding). The statue belongs to the town of Le Puy-en-Velay, which is responsible for its maintenance and care. This "Eiffel Tower" of local heritage attracts over 90,000 visitors every year.