 Pilgrims were early visitors to Le Puy, and it was the most popular destination in France during the Middle Ages.Charlemagne came twice, in 772 and 800.There is a legend that in 772, he established a foundation at the cathedral for ten poor canons ("chanoines de paupérie"), and he chose Le Puy, with Aachen and Saint-Gilles, as a center for the collection of Peter's Pence.