Haute-Loire is a department located in south-central France and is part of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. Its capital and largest town is Le Puy-en-Velay. Haute-Loire (department nmber 43) is bordered to the north by Puy-de-Dôme and Loire, to the east by Ardèche, to the south by Lozère, and to the west by Cantal. The river Loire runs through the department, creating a wide valley, while on either side of it lie ranges of mountains in the Massif Central. The northern part of Haute-Loire is part of the Livradois-Forez Regional Natural Park, which is a protected area of traditionally farmed agricultural land and woodland covering a total area of 297,000 hectares. Haute-Loire has four mountain ranges running north and south, which are Haut-Vivarais and its continuation, the Boutières range, the Massif du Meygal, the Velay Mountains, and the Margeride Mountains.
The highest point in the department is Mont Mézenc, which is 1,753 meters high, and its average elevation is 719 meters. Two-thirds of the area are above 800 meters, and the lowest is 393 meters.
Historically, Velay has been associated with the traditional region of Vivarais, which is now part of
Ardèche. The two areas share a common dialect, which is similar to that spoken in the south of Dauphiné, probably due to the trade links between the two regions.
Haute-Loire has attractive landscapes and is a popular tourist destination. Le Puy-en-Velay has a historic cathedral where pilgrims gather before starting their journey to Santiago de Compostela. The cathedral has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1998, as part of the "
Routes of Santiago de Compostela". Another pilgrimage site is at Saint Michel d'Aiguilhe, a twelfth-century chapel on top of a rocky pinnacle approached by a flight of 268 steps.
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