Orcival: Holiday apartments and holiday homes
File:Vierge en majesté, Basilique Notre-Dame d'Orcival, Puy-de-Dôme, France-2848.jpg
Photo: Raimond Spekking via Source, CC BY-SA 4.0
At the heart of Orcival stands the Basilica of Notre-Dame d’Orcival. It is one of the five most important Romanesque churches in Auvergne, has been a listed historic monument since 1840 and is classified as a Monument historique. During its opening hours, it can be visited independently all year round.
Culture and tradition
The religious tradition includes the pilgrimage on Ascension Day: At the Basilica of Notre-Dame d’Orcival, the statue of the Virgin Mary is carried by barefoot men along the Stations of the Cross to the hamlet of “Tombeau de la Vierge”. On the eve of Ascension Day, the Notre-Dame de la Source Chapel is the starting point for a torchlight procession.
The Notre-Dame de la Source Chapel was rebuilt in 1877 after it had been closed for worship in the 18th century because of its condition. The section of the route from Orcival to Rocamadour is also part of a route designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Nature and trails
The Basilica of Notre-Dame d’Orcival is located in the Parc naturel régional des Volcans d’Auvergne. A distinctive natural landmark is the Roche Branlante d’Orcival: The trachyte block formed by erosion is 7 metres long, 2.6 metres thick and 5.4 metres high. The Roche Branlante can be reached on foot from the village.
The signposted Le Puy Loup hiking trail is a seasonal circular trail that is open exclusively from mid-April to mid-October. The route to the Plateau du Guéry is a moderately difficult 14-kilometre circular trail in Orcival, with a walking time of approximately 4 hours and 30 minutes. It passes by Lac du Guéry, located at an altitude of 1,268 metres, across high mountain plateaus and to the summit of Puy Gros.
Further discoveries
The Maison de la Confiserie & du Chocolat in Orcival produces chocolate, fruit jellies and pralines using traditional craftsmanship. The gardens of Château de Cordès were designed by the workshop of André Le Nôtre and bear the “Jardin remarquable” designation awarded by the French Ministry of Culture.
Orcival is one of the 28 stages of the 3,000-kilometre Grand Tour Auvergne Rhône Alpes.
Those considering Orcival as a travel destination may want to rent a holiday apartment there.
To the higher-level travel overview: Puy-De-Dôme.
Check prices, availability and amenities for your travel dates directly on Booking.com.
View accommodation and offersAdvertisement · Affiliate link to Booking.comMore destinations
More places in the same destination:
