Saint Floret
Saint Floret is a commune of Puy-de-Dôme, which we visited on 25 December (2019). becom
The river, la Couze Pavin, that runs through the village originates from the Lac Pavin. Couze means "surging river" (
rivière torrentueuse) and this is indeed the case of this one, which makes a deafening noise and, although a small river, flows at great if not scary speed. It goes through Issoire where it becomes more tame, before going into the Allier. The bridge in Saint Floret that crosses over these treacherous water hosts a virgin, as is the case also in Saurier, to protect it as per medieval tradition. This one, Notre-Dame du Pont, is a XIIIth century polychrome, possibly a black virgin.
The most iconic feature of Saint Floret is certainly its Donjon, built in the XIIIth century by the Dauphin d'Auvergne, who was cast away there following a family row, on this territory of "Puys and Couzes", where he, to pass time, built various donjons and fortresses. Its circular shape, of the "Philippéen" type, is archetypical in Auvergne (see Montpeyroux, Champeix, Grandeyrolles, Vodable, Chalus, Tournoël, Léotoing, La Sauvetat).
There is in the "Tour Logis" at the foot of the rock an important room with murals that provide the only known XIVth representation of the Tristan and Yseult story, but unfortunately we could not visit it (closed). Also of importance is the romance church overlooking the village, l'Église du Chastel, with a medieval cemetery. We were shocked to find that an ossuary is open to everybody's sight.
View from the médiéval bridge (de la Pède).
Notre Dame du Pont (with a devilish detail on the upper lip).
On our way to L'église du Chastel.
A stone cross on the way.
It's a good walk to the top.
There at last: le Chastel.
Views on the village (cf. top of page) as well as the Puys are however great ones.
Detail of the village's church.
Detail of the donjon.
The medieval tombs.
This on the left is actually an ossuary.
View of Saint Floret itself from its donjon.
