The Mauriac Basilica

A remarkable example of Romanesque art in Haute-Auvergne, the Basilica of Our Lady of Miracles in Mauriac, built from red and grey-coloured volcanic stones, is the biggest Romanesque building in Cantal! A major pilgrimage destination since the Middle Ages, this beautiful 12th-century church has a famous Black Madonna above its high altar. Each year, the statue is taken on a procession through the streets of the town.

A listed Historic Monument, the basilica contains other gems like a 16th-century statue of the Madonna with a bird, a carved polychrome Romanesque baptismal font, an 18th-century lectern with eagle, and a Baroque pulpit. Also take the time to admire its west portal, guarded by two lions, with its carved tympanum depicting the Ascension of Christ, and its chevet decorated with modillions.

Other sights to see in Mauriac are the Monastery of St. Peter, said to have been founded by Clovis' daughter in the 6th century. Many times converted, it retains an 11th-century chapter house featuring Gallo-Roman columns, and a cloister whose East gallery displays Romaneque and Gothic features.