Le dôme

This is the octagonal dome, or lantern, of the cathedral in Le Puy-en-Velay. It's built over the choir, where the transept crosses the main axis of the nave. The purpose of a cathedral's lantern is to bring light down into the building, usually over the altar, hence the name.

Looking south toward the cathedral and its dome.

When we left the cathedral (the way we came in), we walked around it in the streets on its southern side. Since the cathedral is built on a hill, we were well below the floor level of the building. We continued around to the back and climbed back up the hill on the cathedral's north side, following signs toward the cloister. That's where we got this view.