The word "Brioude" derives from Briars, Bridge : the town stands nearby a crossing over the Alliers, at the South of the plain of "petite Limagne".

Located on a junction of the great Nord-Sud communication axis (Le Chemin Français and la Voie Régordane), medieval Brioude thrived on St Julien's worshippers.

Renowned pilgrimage place as from the 5th century, the vault is very popular (2nd Gaules pilgrimage after St Martin).

Brioude is, to the pilgrimer on his way to St Jacques de Compostelle, an unavoidable halt for worshipping the saint relic.

At the beginning of the XIst century, the canons of St Julien chapter have the existing large pilgrimage church erected where the confession altar and the previous churches originally stood. Rich and powerful, the canons look after the sepulchre, sing divine praises and fund the embellishment of the church and town with the donations and the accumulation of wealth.

The inhabitants do not easily accept the overruling of the chapter, which despite strong opposition, up to the Revolution, manages to master any attempts of rebellion.

The expansion of Brioude can be witnessed in the layout of the fortified walls from which the roads and boulevards unfold.

Information plates, displayed around the historical centre, outline the main historical sites and events of the town.

Brioude