BASILIQUE SAINTE-MARIE-MADELEINE

On this Unesco World Heritage site, centuries are looking down on you, and even a large part of French history! Perched at the top of a hill called eternal, the Basilica of Saint Mary Magdalene of Vézelay is the most visited site in Burgundy-Franche-Comté. High place of Christianity, it benefits from the label "Cities sanctuaries of France", like Lourdes or the Mont-Saint-Michel. Originally, a convent was founded in the neighboring town of Saint-Père in the ^9th century. Monks soon replaced the nuns, but the new monastery was destroyed during the Norman invasions. To replace the building, the hill of Vézelay (whose position seems much less vulnerable) is then chosen: a new abbey is built there which, two centuries later, takes the name of Saint Mary Magdalene (in homage to the sinner whose supposed relics the monastery preserves). From then on, the reputation of Vézelay did not stop growing. In 1146, in the presence of Louis VII, Saint Bernard of Clairvaux preached the second crusade. Before leaving for the third crusade, the king of France Philippe Auguste and the king of England Richard the Lionheart met there. Later, Saint Francis of Assisi decided to found the first mission of his Friars Minor there, and Saint Louis went on pilgrimage four times. Vézelay is a stopover on the road to Santiago de Compostela and is so important that it is the meeting place for pilgrims from all over Northern Europe. The Carolingian church had to be enlarged because it attracted so many people. Until fate, which, once again, takes its toll...

A fire completely destroys the nave, which is rebuilt at the beginning of the ^13th century. Unfortunately, shortly afterwards, Saint Maximin in Provence announced the discovery of the "true" relics of Saint Mary Magdalene, so the basilica suddenly lost all its prestige. It was sulked over and deserted. Plundered and ravaged by the Protestants in 1569, it did not escape the fury of the Revolution either, when it was partly razed.

It is to Prosper Mérimée - author of the novel Carmen, but especially inspector of the Historical Monuments from 1834 to 1860 - that the building on the point of collapsing owes its splendid rebirth. Thanks to him, in 1840, the old abbey, which had become a basilica, was registered on the first list of Historic Monuments and was passed on to the genius of the architect Eugène Viollet-le-Duc, who took charge of its restoration and rebuilt, among other things, its façade. A facade that recent renovation work has made even more majestic! It has three portals, the central portal is distinguished by its tympanum, a sculpted half-moon surface that surmounts it. It represents the Last Judgment and was created by the sculptor Michel-Pascal. Also not to be missed is the magnificent Romanesque narthex from the early ^12th century, with its richly sculpted tympanum. It measures a little more than 9 m wide and represents the "Mission of the Apostles". It is often considered one of the masterpieces of sculptural art in France. The nave is also impressive; at 62 meters, it is longer than many of the great French cathedrals such as Notre-Dame de Paris or Notre-Dame d'Amiens. It leads to a Gothic choir in white stone of great luminosity. If you pass by during the summer or winter solstices, don't hesitate to enter the heart of the monument. It has been designed in such a way that, on those days, the light is as precise as it is spectacular. The sun shines there like a theater projector in a phenomenon that is absolutely unique in the world! Nine spots of light appear on the floor and seem to trace a path from one end of the nave to the other. Guided tours are organized for the occasion (contact the Maison du Visiteur). Another particularity of this basilica is its large number of historiated capitals, 120 in total. Their detailed sculptures recount several episodes from the Bible. It is thus a profusion of details which awaits you in this basilica, envisage enough time to visit it and to contemplate these masterpieces testifying to a great dexterity. The Visitor's House will provide you with all the necessary information for your visit. You can also watch a film about the making of the great tympanum or sign up for workshops, including drawing and reading the capitals. In addition, a hike on the pilgrims' way to Compostela is sometimes organized from the village of Asquins to the basilica of Sainte-Marie-Madeleine. Ask for information at the Maison du Visiteur which is located halfway up the hill to the basilica, in the center of Vézelay.

Finally, during your visit, think of taking a walk in the gardens, right next door. There, you will stroll until you discover a breathtaking view of the eternal hill whose colors change with the seasons and the hours. The colorful landscapes of the Morvan will then be admired before your amazed eyes. You should know that, like the basilica, this hill called "eternal" is classified as a world heritage site. In Vézelay, everything, absolutely everything, pushes to the discovery. And to wonder!