Conques
became a major point on the way to Saint Jacques de
Compostelle, between Le Puy-en-Velay and Moissac.
This for two reasons: the relics of Saint Foy, a 12-year-old
girl martyr burned and decapitated in 303, which were
brought back from Agen in 866 by the monk Avariscius;
and the Via Podiensis, one of the four roads leading
to Saint Jacques-de-Compostelle.
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From the 11th to 13th
centuries, the influx of pilgrims continued to
grow under the influence of the"Livre des
miracles de Saint Foy" (Book of Miracles
of Saint Foy).
Conques was to become famous throughout the western
world.
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Coming
from Le Puy-en-Velay, there are still numerous
pilgrims who walk this historic path and pause
at the heart of Conques, where they are welcomed
by members of the clergy.
The church has a vast nave more than 20 meters
high. Its wide transepts allowed the pilgrims
to stroll around the church interior while also
facilitating general circulation. In the past,
the pilgrims who came to the abbey prostrated
themselves before the reliquary statue of Saint
Foy, which was then placed in the choir.
Today, the statue is preserved in a relics room,
where several pieces of goldsmithery are also
presented. This rich and historic legacy was
enriched in 1994 by new stained-glass windows
designed by the Ruthénois Pierre Soulages.
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