Built in the 11th and 12th centuries on the site of a sanctuary dedicated to St. Julian, a Roman soldier who converted to Christianity and is said to have been martyred in 304, Brioude Basilica in Haute-Loire is now the biggest Romanesque church in Auvergne.
A major place of pilgrimage and a stopover on the Via Arverna, one of the paths leading to Santiago de Compostela, the Basilica of St. Julian is remarkable for more than one reason: the abundance of colours is striking as soon as you enter, with the floor paved with basalt and quartz stones, the brightly coloured wall paintings, including the magnificent 12th-century frescoes in the Chapel of St. Michael, and the contemporary stained glass windows that let the light in.
Other examples of the Romanesque style: the historic capitals, the bronze knockers on the south porch, the chevet with sculpted modillions... The two bell towers, square and octagonal, were rebuilt in the 19th century.
The basilica district around Rue du Quatre Septembre is dotted with old houses and mansions that contribute to the charm of the whole area. Also worth seeing is the beautiful view of the city's rooftops, the Allier plain and the foothills of the Livradois from Esplanade de Verdun!
