Orcival features historic Romanesque basilica in Auvergne

The medieval village of Orcival, located approximately 45 minutes from Clermont-Ferrand in the Monts Dore region, is home to the Basilica of Notre-Dame d'Orcival. Situated at an altitude of 840 meters in the Sioulet valley, the village features dark stone houses made of andesite, a volcanic rock characteristic of the Massif Central.

The basilica, which has been classified as a Monument Historique since 1840, is a significant Romanesque site. Notable features include the 12th-century Romanesque Virgin in Majesty located in the choir. Despite having a population of fewer than 300 residents, the village attracts tens of thousands of visitors annually.