Last modified: 2010-12-04 by ivan sache
Keywords: haute-loire | puy-en-velay (le) |
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Flag of Le Puy - Image by Ivan Sache, 8 November 2000
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Le Puy-en-Velay is the préfecture of the department
of Haute-Loire, which more or less matches the traditional pays of 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 - lit. Needle
Mount, on which a church was erected), Romanesque churchs (the town
was an important stopping place on one of the Way of St. James), 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.).
Ivan Sache, 8 November 2000
The flag of Le Puy-en-Velay is vertically divided yellow and blue, and is probably derived from the municipal coat of arms.
Pascal Vagnat & Ivan Sache, 8 November 2000