Ségur-les-Villas

The Chapelle de Valentine dominates the valley of the river Santoire from this high promontory of "orgues basaltiques" between Riom-ès-Montagnes and Murat in the Auvergne, France.

Here the madonna - a Vierge en majesté / Virgin in Magesty - is venerated. The pilgrimages take place at la fête de l'Assomption and at la fête de la Nativité.

The original figure of the madonna is now to be found in a small chapel in the church of Ségur les Villas.

Legend tells us that the church was built here following a vow made by a certain king when he found himself lost and stranded here during a storm. He knew not which way to go, and in casting about for a way down off the sheer cliffs he discovered a figure of the Madonna in a niche in the rock. He vowed that if he should survive the ferocious storm he would return to build a chapel at this spot.

It is said that there is a silver bell which may be heard tolling on Vendredi saint - Good Friday, buried below the ruins of the nearby Château de Fortuniés.

At the westernmost point of the plateau du Limon in the foothills of Puy Mary and the Monts du Cantal, this is a major juncton of ancient ways from Condat and Allanches.

Here are wide open vistas, wild breezes and breath-taking views all around.