Orcival The Basilica of Notre-Dame of Orcival

In a narrow valley of the Monts Dore, the Romanesque church of Orcival was built in the twelfth century of the dark volcanic stone of the Auvergne. It is one of the five major Romanesque churches of the region, with Notre-Dame-du-Port in Clermont, Issoire, Saint-Nectaire and Saint-Saturnin.

Its treasure is a twelfth-century Virgin in Majesty, of walnut covered with silver and gilt, who holds the Child on her knees as a throne. Each year on Ascension Thursday the statue is carried in procession out of the basilica and up the hill above the village, for a pilgrimage of long standing.

Further reading: Black Madonnas of France: A Pilgrim’s Guide; Romanesque France: Cluny and the Churches of the Pilgrim Roads.

• The Virgin in MajestyAbove the high altar.
• The chainsIron chains of freed prisoners, hung on the south front of the church in thanks.

• Ascension ThursdayThe pilgrimage of Orcival, with the procession of the Virgin

• Via RomanicaThe Romanesque Way, seven daysDay V, Paray-le-Monial to Orcival

About forty minutes by road from Clermont-Ferrand.

• Saint-NectaireThe Church of Saint-Nectaire, about 10 miles as the crow flies
• Clermont-FerrandNotre-Dame-du-Port, about 13 miles as the crow flies
• SouvignyThe Priory of Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul, about 61 miles as the crow flies
• Le Puy-en-VelayThe Cathedral of Notre-Dame du Puy, about 67 miles as the crow flies