sentences:  The cathedral very early on became a centre of the cult of Our Lady and a place of pilgrimage — Charlemagne made the pilgrimage to Le Puy twice — which brought it great wealth and influence.Its treasures escaped the ravages of war repeatedly over the centuries until the French Revolution, when all were destroyed, including the ebony statue of Our Lady of Le Puy which had been a gift of Saint Louis.Pilgrims starting their journey to Santiago de Compostela gather to be blessed each morning.