Discover La Chaise-Dieu, a tourist hotspot in the Puy-en-Velay region, nestled on a granite promontory at more than 1080 meters, a true haven of peace. The village enchants with the beauty of the place and its visits, also renowned for its famous Saint-Robert Abbey Church and its sacred music festival.
The museum tour of La Chaise-Dieu Abbey
La Chaise-Dieu Abbey offers a new, paid, and immersive discovery trail through 1000 years of history and architecture. Visitors will discover restored spaces: the Gothic cloister, the Echo Room with its astonishing acoustics… but also new rooms such as the Loggia.
Clement VI, with an optical theater installed in the former kitchens, presents a film on the historical context of the construction of the abbey church by Pope Clement VI; the Notre Dame du Collège chapel, rediscovered during the restoration work, optimally houses the 14 16th-century Flemish tapestries, a true national treasure listed as a Historical Monument since 1840, linking scenes from the Old and New Testaments; as well as the Builders' History Center and its treasures, the facsimile of the Dance of Death, and its entertaining and informative film. The tour also allows visitors to explore the magnificent St. Robert Abbey Church, where the famous Music Festival takes place every year at the end of August…
Timetable
| Opening hours from September 21 to November 01, 2026 | |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | Open from 13:30 a.m. to 18:30 p.m. |
| Wednesday | Open from 13:30 a.m. to 18:30 p.m. |
| Thursday | Open from 13:30 a.m. to 18:30 p.m. |
| Friday | Open from 13:30 a.m. to 18:30 p.m. |
| Saturday | Open from 13:30 a.m. to 18:30 p.m. |
| Sunday | Open from 13:30 a.m. to 18:30 p.m. |
Ticket office closes and last entry is at 17pm
Photo Exhibition
PRICES
| Prices | Min. | Max. |
|---|---|---|
| Full price |
12 € | Not disclosed |
| Reduced price |
9 € | Not disclosed |
| Child |
9 € | Not disclosed |
| Family package |
30 € | Not disclosed |
| Adult group |
8 € | Not disclosed |
Imposing masterpiece
Saint-Robert Abbey
At the heart of La Chaise-Dieu beats a monumental masterpiece of religious history. On the highlands, the Saint-Robert abbey church is an essential part of your stay. A 144th-century Gothic abbey church housing the tomb of the famous Pope Clement VI surrounded by XNUMX carved oak stalls.
It invites contemplation and meditation around the famous Dance of Death fresco , a 15th-century mural. The magnificent rood screen divides the nave into two parts, at the foot of which lies the tomb of Saint Robert, founder of the 11th-century Benedictine abbey "La Casadei".
The Chaise-Dieu
La Chapel of the Penitents
The room is beautiful with its slender vaults. It was built under the abbey of Abbot Jacques de Saint-Nectaire, whose arms can be seen on the keystones. On the platform, symbols of the passion, used every Good Friday in the 19th century for the Passion ceremony, are exhibited. A Stations of the Cross painted by Robert Falcucci adorns the walls of the chapel.
Former monks' refectory built in the 15th century, it was transformed into a chapel at the beginning of the 19th century. It was the chapel of the Brotherhood of Penitents. Today, this chapel is used for mass in winter and the offices of the Brothers of Saint-Jean in the summer.
le cloister
The cloister is the center of the monastery. That of La Chaise-Dieu only has two sides: to the north, giving access to the church and to the west, alongside the hotel. You have to imagine the south side running alongside the refectory and the east side giving access to the dormitories and cells. They were destroyed first by a fire shortly before the Revolution, then by simple vandalism during the 19th century.
Built in the 15th century and completed by Abbot Jacques de Saint-Nectaire in the 16th century, this cloister replaces the old Romanesque cloister wanted by Saint Robert. Flamboyant Gothic style, it looks great. In the southwest corner, we see the location of the sink which was used for ablutions by the monks before entering the refectory, the door of which we can see.
The cloister is now part of the museum tour of the abbey for a fee.
THE ECHO ROOM
The Echo room of La Chaise-Dieu Abbey is a real mystery for its visitors. In this 17th century room, if you stand in a corner and whisper, the person standing in the diametrically opposite corner hears this whisper as well as if you were right next to them. According to legend, the room, the last of its kind still present in the abbey where there were three, would have been used for the confessions of lepers, thus allowing them to confess their sin without risking contaminating the priest...
In addition to this almost miraculous appearance, the room itself is beautiful with its painted friezes on the ceiling. This room can now be visited on the abbey's new museographic tour for a fee.
La Clementine Tower
A true fortified keep, the Clémentine Tower is the highest point of La Chaise-Dieu. It dates from the 1562th century. In XNUMX, its interior well allowed the monks to survive the three-week siege by the Huguenots. She also protected the treasure and the tapestries. It now houses the sacristy.
It is not possible to visit this site for security reasons… On the other hand, you can admire its silhouette while visiting the town.
See more...
During your stay at La Chaise-Dieu
Find below the guided tours and highlights of La Chaise-Dieu which will punctuate your stay in the Puy-en-Velay region.
Parcours muséographique de l’Abbaye de La Chaise-Dieu
Bookable online. From €12 per adult.
September 21 - November 01 , 2026
Visite guidée de l’Abbaye : cloître, église abbatiale et tapisseries
Bookable online. From €18 per adult.
September 22 - November 01 , 2026
Le walkway and the medieval village
Discover the history of La Chaise-Dieu through its stones, its facades decorated with mascarons, bretèches, fortifications and coats of arms. The walkway of the Saint-Robert Abbey Church is a covered balcony which connects the 2 bell towers on the facade. All around the imposing granite abbey a medieval village was born. You will be charmed by the facades and houses from the Middle Ages at the bend of the streets, the city promises you many surprises.
Around La Chaise-Dieu
bodies of water
Having your feet in the water…
Around the village, the bodies of water will refresh you and the deep coniferous forests are ideal for hiking.
The village is surrounded by bodies of water: the Tour lake has a small beach equipped for unsupervised swimming with a jetty, picnic tables under the nearby pine trees, a volleyball court… The Chaumière du plan d'eau offers a very pleasant terrace in the summer season. The Étang du Breuil on the road to Bonneval is reserved for fishing.
Numerous marked and labeled hiking trails also dot the surrounding area.
tourist trains
Two railway lines are still used in the summer season by local associations: the Agrivap panoramic train coming from Ambert on the Puy-De-Dôme side and the Chemin de Fer du Haut-Forez coming from Estivareilles on the Loire side. These trains operate every Sunday from June to September as well as several weekdays in July and August.
Your accommodation
at the god chair
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Chambres et table d’hôtes – « Le Clos de L’Âtre »
Bed and Breakfast
Bookable online. From €80 /night.
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Photo 1, © Haute-Loire Attractivité -
Photo 2, © Haute-Loire Attractivité -
Photo 3, © Haute-Loire Attractivité -
Photo 4, © Haute-Loire Attractivité -
Le Clos de l'Atre_La Chaise-Dieu_2020, © MDDT43
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Le Moulin du Vialard
3-star, 3-ear-of-wheat furnished accommodation and gîte
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Le Moulin du Viallard_Laval-sur-Doulon, © Gîte de France - 2025 -
Le Moulin du Viallard_Laval-sur-Doulon, © Gîte de France - 2025 -
Le Moulin du Viallard_Laval-sur-Doulon, © Gîte de France - 2025 -
Le Moulin du Viallard_Laval-sur-Doulon, © Gîte de France-2025 -
Le Moulin du Viallard_Laval-sur-Doulon, © Gîte de France-2025
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Gîte « La Maison sous les étoiles »
3-star, 3-ear-of-wheat furnished accommodation and gîte
Bookable online. From €255 /night.
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Photo 1, © Owner -
Photo 2, © Haute-Loire Attractivité -
Photo 3, © Haute-Loire Attractivité -
Photo 4, © GDF -
The House Under the Stars - 2025, © The House Under the Stars
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Le Picasso
3-star Furnished Accommodation and Cottage
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Furnished apartment of Mrs. Chauvel_La Chaise-Dieu_2021, © Mrs. Chauvel -
Furnished apartment of Mrs. CHAUVEL_La Chaise-Dieu_2019, © MDDT43 -
Furnished apartment of Mrs. CHAUVEL_La Chaise-Dieu_2019, © MDDT43 -
Furnished apartment of Mrs. CHAUVEL_La Chaise-Dieu_2019, © MDDT43 -
Furnished apartment of Mrs. CHAUVEL_La Chaise-Dieu_2019, © MDDT43
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La maison aux volets bleus proche de l’abbaye de la Chaise-Dieu
2-star Furnished Accommodation and Cottage
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Photo 1, © Haute-Loire Attractivité -
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Photo 3, © Haute-Loire Attractivité -
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Gîte La Crova
3-star Furnished Accommodation and Cottage
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laCrova, © owner -
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Photo 3, © Haute-Loire Attractivité -
Photo 4, © Haute-Loire Attractivité -
lacrova, © MDDT
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Private garden of the cottage, © owner -
garden side, © MDDT43 -
Living room/dining room seen from the stairs, © MDDT43 -
TV room, © MDDT Hte-Loire -
TV lounge, window overlooking the private garden of the cottage, © MDDT Haute-Loire
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Gîte l’Ancienne boulangerie
2-star Furnished Accommodation and Cottage
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Photo 1, © Haute-Loire Attractivité -
Photo 2, © Haute-Loire Attractivité -
Photo 3, © Haute-Loire Attractivité -
Photo 4, © Haute-Loire Attractivité -
Gîte de l'Ancienne boulangerie-Cistrières-2020, © MDDT43
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Aire de Service Pour Camping-Cars
Motorhome service / reception area
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La Chaise-Dieu, © campercontact.com -
La Chaise-Dieu, © Park4night -
La Chaise-Dieu, © Park4night
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