The Auvergne's largest Romanesque church is a whopper in design as much as size. Built over the tomb of martyred Saint Julien, and housing a gold reliquary holding his remains, the stone basilica seems to glow in shades of dusky rose and warm beige. The basilica's exterior decoration, including floral motifs inlaid with black volcanic stone, was completed in the 13th century, but the frescoes inside are as much as 200 years older.
© Eric Bascol/Getty Images/iStockphoto
Basilique de St-Julien
Auvergne
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
28.09 MILES
This midnight-blue crater lake, enclosed by a fuzz of pine trees, lies 6km southwest of Besse. Blasted out of the earth by a volcanic explosion nearly…
29.58 MILES
Le Puy's oldest chapel, first established in the 10th century, and rebuilt several times since, teeters atop an 85m-high volcanic plug, reached by…
15.31 MILES
For Pope Clement VI, a humble tomb simply wouldn't do. The pope commissioned a palatial church to shelter his final resting place and the resulting Église…
29.01 MILES
Roosting on a basalt knoll above Murol village, the 12th-century Château de Murol offers peerless views along with insights into a brutish medieval past…
27.62 MILES
The Papon family put St-Nectaire's hot springs to creative use at the 'Petrifying Fountains', channelling the mineral-rich waters to make art. Calcium…
29.84 MILES
A chequerboard of grey and white stone perched on a volcanic stone crag, Le Puy's cathedral is the monumental starting point for pilgrims embarking on the…
18.47 MILES
Issoire is the proud home of the Auvergne’s most extravagantly decorated Romanesque church. The exterior of this 12th-century edifice is festooned with…
29.8 MILES
At 16m tall and weighing a svelte 110 tonnes, this crimson Notre Dame de France (Virgin Mary) statue makes an imposing guardian over Le Puy. Since 1860,…
Nearby Auvergne attractions
1. Église Abbatiale de St-Robert
15.31 MILES
For Pope Clement VI, a humble tomb simply wouldn't do. The pope commissioned a palatial church to shelter his final resting place and the resulting Église…
16.35 MILES
Designed as an impregnable citadel, the village of Usson roosts atop a volcanic plume, 8km east of Issoire. The daughter of Henry II and Catherine de…
3. Jardins du Château d'Hauterive
18.26 MILES
Amble in 7 hectares of manicured gardens next to this romantic 17th-century chateau, 2km southwest of central Issoire.
18.47 MILES
Issoire is the proud home of the Auvergne’s most extravagantly decorated Romanesque church. The exterior of this 12th-century edifice is festooned with…
24.28 MILES
This castle keep is the stocky centrepiece of the medieval walled town of Montpeyroux, 12km north of Issoire. Montpeyroux's fortifications were built as a…
6. Musée de la Bête du Gévaudan
24.34 MILES
Ready to quake in fear at Saugues' most chilling legend? Or hoping to entertain your bloodthirsty kids and pick up a lupine-themed souvenir? This museum…
7. Maison de la Fourme d'Ambert
24.85 MILES
Creamy blue Fourme d'Ambert, recognisable by its tall, cylindrical shape, is one of the Auvergne's five Appellation d’Origine Protégée (AOP) cheeses. This…
26.17 MILES
Paper has been made here since 1326, and this old-school operation still produces around 200 sheets per day using traditional techniques. Hour-long guided…
- placement: superzone
- path: Destinations/POIs/superzone
- possible size: [970, 250], [970, 90], [728, 90], [1, 1],
- targeting:
{ "url": "france/gorges-de-l-allier/attractions/basilique-de-st-julien/a/poi-sig/1533574/1318546", "destination": "Auvergne", "continent": "Europe", "country": "France", "region": "Auvergne", "position": "superzone" }