Last modified: 2002-07-20 by ivan sache
Keywords: haute-loire | le puy-en-velay |
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![[Flag of Le Puy]](../images/f/fr-43-lp.gif)
by Ivan Sache
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Le Puy-en-Velay is the préfecture of the department of Haute-Loire, Velay is the south-eastern part of Auvergne, and the department of Haute-Loire more or less matches Velay.
Le Puy is located in a fertile basin in the middle of the volcanic
plateau of Velay. The city is famous for its volcanic peaks
(Rocher Corneille and Mont Aiguilhe - litt. Needle
Mount, on which a church was erected), Romanesque churchs (the city
was an important stopping place on one of the pilgrimage trail to
Santiago de Compostela), its traditional hand-made lace (dentelle
du Puy, with the National Academy of Hand-made Lace) and green
lentil cultivation (lentilles vertes du Puy).
Its inhabitants (ca. 30,000 ) are called Ponots or
Aniciens.
The name puy or pech, puech, puig, depending on the areas, is used in the Occitan-speaking area to design a mountain, and especially in Auvergne for volcanos (Puy-de-Dôme, Puy de Sancy, Puy Mary etc.).
The flag of Le Puy-en-Velay is vertically divided yellow and blue, and is probably derived from the city coat of arms.
Ivan Sache, 8 November 2000
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