Vezelay - Bourgogne, France travel

Visitez Vezelay : gites | hotels | location des voitures | explore Burgundy

Vezelay ('most beautiful villages of France') is 50km south of Auxerre, in Bourgogne

Tourist Information

Vézelay is an attractive village, in an imposing position at the top of a hill, with far-reaching views over the 'Monts de Marvan'. An attractive village founded in the 12th century, the village is on the edge of the Morvan Regional Park. The narrow winding streets of the village are hemmed in by ancient houses featuring many examples of the local architecture, and the original village ramparts still surround Vezelay.

In addition to being a 'most beautiful villages of France', Vézelay and surroundings and the abbey are listed by UNESCO as being a World Heritage Site.

The highlight of the village is without doubt the Abbey of St Mary Magdalene, an awe-inspiring building with soaring decorative vaults. The abbey contains the relics of Saint Mary and was historically a starting point for pilgrims following one of several French plgrimage routes to Santiago de Compostella.

From the 12th century, the abbey passed into severe disrepair, until it was restored in the 19th century to the splendid abbey that you can now visit. (Richard the Lionheart and Phillippe Auguste embarked on the 3rd crusade from this abbey.)

Also to see

Jules-Roy House

The writer Jules-Roy lived in Vézelay, and his house can now be visited, next to the abbey. The gardens at the house are very beautiful and peaceful, and well worth a visit, even if you don't know of Jules-Roy himself.