Notre-Dame de France statue location and height

The Notre-Dame de France statue stands on the Corneille rock at an altitude of 757 meters, overlooking the town of Le Puy-en-Velay. It was erected in 1860 and has become a prominent landmark in the region.

Materials used for the statue

The statue was cast using metal from 213 Russian cannons captured during the Crimean War at Sebastopol. These cannons were obtained through a promise made by Emperor Napoleon III to Bishop Auguste de Morlhon.

Statue's construction and dimensions

The statue is 22.70 meters tall, consisting of a 16-meter Virgin Mary figure on a 6.70-meter pedestal. It is made of cast iron and weighs approximately 835 tons in total, with the statue itself weighing 110 tons.

Design selection and construction start

The design by Jean-Marie Bonnassieux was chosen in an European competition in 1853. The first stone was laid in 1854, and the construction began in Givors in March 1856, using metal from the captured cannons.

Bishop's plea and the promise

On September 5, 1855, Bishop Auguste de Morlhon visited Paris to plead his case to Napoleon III. He received a donation of 10,000 francs and a promise to provide cannons taken from Sebastopol after the siege was successful.

Completion and dedication

The first pieces of the statue arrived in Le Puy in 1859, and the completed monument was blessed on September 12, 1860, in front of nearly 120,000 people. The statue was painted red to enhance its visibility from the city below.

Statue's structure and accessibility

The statue is hollow and can be climbed via a spiral cast iron staircase with 58 steps, leading to three levels with windows offering views of the city. The structure is made of 100 cast iron pieces bolted together.

Statue's significance and visitor numbers

The Notre-Dame de France is the most visited monument in Haute-Loire, welcoming over 115,000 visitors in 2024. It will be closed for renovation from September 2026 to May 2028, affecting visitor access during that period.

Historical protection and surrounding monuments

The site was listed as a historical monument in 1997, protecting the statue, its base, the preserved Sebastopol cannons, and the statue of Bishop Auguste de Morlhon, erected in 1864 by the same sculptor.