- [Narrator] High above a small town in France

sits a beautiful chapel.

It's a long way to the top.

But you know what they say:

the bigger the climb, the closer to God.

(contemporary music)

Chapel Saint-Michel d'Aiguilhe,

otherwise known as Saint Micheal of the Needle,

is located in Le Puy-En-Velay,

a town roughly six hours away from Paris.

Built atop an extinct volcanic plug that is believed

to have formed over two million years ago,

this church rises nearly 300 feet from the ground

and is dedicated to the Archangel Michael.

The church was commissioned by a bishop in the year 951

who wanted to commemorate his 1,000 mile journey back

from the Pyrenees Mountain Range.

On average, the site receives just over 65,000

visitors each year.

And at 268 steps, the climb to the top is long.

But the view is quite a reward

with a 360-degree look at the town including

the surrounding volcanic formations.

(electronic pinging)