(b. 1984), tennis player, 2013 Wimbledon champion Peire Cardenal (1180–1278), Occitan troubadour Antoine Clet (1705–1785), king's printer, writer Guillaume Coelho (b. 1986), professional footballer Grégory Coupet (b. 1972), ex-football player for Lyon, France national team Johanne Defay (b. 1993), born in Le Puy, professional surfer Charles Dupuy (1851–1923), politician, president of the council during the Third Republic Émile Fayolle (1852–1928), marshall, commanded troops in World War I Guy François (1578–1650), painter Sidney Govou (b. 1979), football player for Evian TG, France national team Pierre Julien (1731–1804), neoclassical sculptor Bruno Julliard (b. 1981), chairman of UNEF, son of mayor of Le Puy-en-Velay, Arlette Arnaud-Landau Julien Malzieu (b. 1983), rugby union player with ASM Clermont Auvergne, France national team Anne-Marie Martel (1644–73), founder of what is now the Congrégation des Sœurs de l'Enfant-Jésus Gustave Mesny (1886–1945), army general Pierre de Mirmande, dignitary and superior of the Order of Saint-John of Jerusalem during the Crusades Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette (1757–1834), born near Le-Puy-en-Velay, supporter of US during the war of independence Jérémy Perbet (b. 1984), football player for RC Strasbourg and RAEC Mons François Peyrard (1760–1822), first librarian of the École Polytechnique, scholar at the Collège of Le Puy in the 1770s Charles-Émile Reynaud (1844–1918), inventor from a Le-Puy-en-Velay family, lived there for many years Jules Vallès (1832–1885), born in Le Puy, writer and journalist, author of L'Enfant Louis Vigouroux (1865–1956), born in Le Puy, economist, deputy for Le Puy from 1900 to 1910 Jean-Claude Risset (1938–2016), born in Le Puy, French composer, best known for his pioneering contributions to computer music Twin cities Le-Puy-en-Velay is twinned with the following towns: Meschede, Germany Tonbridge, United Kingdom Tortosa, Spain Brugherio, Italy Mangualde, Portugal Gastronomy Le Puy is famous for a particular strain of green lentils and for its green liqueur "Verveine" flavored with verbena. The lentils, grown on the thin soils of the area, are very small and almost black in colour. Their unique quality and flavour derive from their high protein and relatively low carbohydrate content. They are widely used in soups and also to accompany goose, duck and sausage dishes. Le Puy green lentil (Lentille Verte du Puy) is an appellation recognised throughout the European Union (Protected Designation of Origin). Noteworthy events Catholic Jubilee The town holds a jubilee in years when the feast of the Annunciation falls on Good Friday. The Jubilee of Le Puy (see Jubilé du Puy-en-Velay