Pace yourself—you"ll need to climb 268 stone steps to reach the entrance of Chapel St-Michel d"Aiguilhe (Chapel of St. Michael of the Needle). This historic church near Le Puy-en-Velay, France, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that attracts visitors from around the world. It was constructed in 969 by a local bishop and dedicated to the Archangel Michael, the patron saint of mountaintops. Even before the chapel was built, the site had spiritual significance, as it was home to prehistoric dolmens (stone tombs) built by the Romans to honor their god Mercury.
Chapel on the rock
Today in History
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Do spirits haunt the Gardens of Versailles?
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These laurels are hardy
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The mountaintop of toppled gods
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Celebrating World Water Day
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The Door County Coastal Byway in Wisconsin
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A misty morning in Brazil
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Basking in the glow
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Tortula moss, Netherlands
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Wild turkeys in repose
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Maybe we should be looking up
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Southern right whales sail home to South Africa
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Keep your hands inside the ride at all times…
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Fresh water on the Silk Road
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A throng of ice and spires
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Chestnut-eared aracari in the Pantanal, Brazil
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Beware the Ides of March
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Azaleas blooming on Hwangmaesan Mountain, South Korea
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Let’s celebrate
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A meerkat stands alone
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International Museum Day
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New York City Marathon
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Road to Sa Calobra, Majorca, Spain
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Mada’in Saleh archeological site in Saudi Arabia
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Nubble Island’s only industry
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Castle Square, Old Town, Warsaw, Poland
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Saint Dwynwen s Day
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Hippo family in Chobe National Park, Botswana
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A stroll above the stratosphere
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Today is World Refugee Day
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Autumn’s swan song