Vierge de Monton: A Serene Sentinel Over Auvergne

The Vierge de Monton, a monumental statue of the Virgin Mary holding the Christ Child, stands proudly atop the Puy de Monton, near the village of Veyre-Monton. This impressive 21-meter-high statue, one of the tallest in France, has become an iconic symbol of the Auvergne region.Erected in 1869, the Vierge de Monton commemorates a religious mission preached in 1863 by Capuchin friars. Following the proclamation of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception, the statue was envisioned to express the villagers' faith and to atone for the atrocities of the French Revolution. Financed by local subscriptions, the statue remains the property of the inhabitants of Monton, a testament to their enduring devotion.The statue, sculpted by Aristide Belloc from white Beaucaire stone, depicts the crowned Virgin Mary trampling a snake, symbolizing the triumph of good over evil. The site offers exceptional views of the surrounding landscape, including the Chaîne des Puys, Clermont-Ferrand, and the Forez mountains. An orientation table helps visitors identify the various landmarks.Adding to the site's historical intrigue is a German howitzer, a war trophy from World War I, positioned at the foot of the statue. The gun, cast in Berlin in 1900, was hidden during the German occupation in World War II and later reinstalled. The site also features a small museum, the Historial, which recounts the history of Notre-Dame de Monton, the pilgrimage, the Prussian cannon, and the village itself.Each year, on the last weekend of August, a pilgrimage takes place, drawing many to the site. The festivities include a torchlight procession and a Marian vigil.