Let’s continue our tour of the remarkable villages and sites accessible from Lyon for a weekend. After Cluny, Château-Chalon and Baume-les-Messieurs, let’s take a step further into Burgundy, to an absolutely fabulous site: Vézelay. This other medieval town, world-famous for its basilica, remains untouched by mass tourism. And yet, for centuries, the town has seen many walkers take the road to Compostela.
Vézelay, one of France’s most beautiful villages
What’s most striking about arriving on the Avallon road to Vézelay is the distant view of this village enthroned on the “eternal hill”. Surrounded by vineyards and lush forest, Vézelay lies in the Yonne department, at the gateway to the Morvan regional nature park.
As you enter the village, you’ll naturally be drawn to the long main street, which leads up to the basilica. Some of the cobblestones date back to the 15th century and have seen millions of feet pass through them: kings, knights, popes or simple pilgrims, who each year come to begin their long journey to Santiago de Compostela.
This is not only a place of spirituality, but also of cultural and gastronomic heritage. A number of galleries and stores featuring genuine local artisans will allow you to take home a souvenir of the area. And as self-respecting Lyonnais, don’t forget to sample the flavors of the region. We recommend, among other things, Époisses, a creamy local cheese, as well as the famous gougère (a real treat as an aperitif), especially when accompanied by a good glass of Chablis.
Sainte-Marie-Madeleine de Vézelay, France’s first and only UNESCO World Heritage Site
In 1979, the basilica and hill of Vézelay were listed by UNESCO as a sign of their exceptional universal value. And when you take a closer look, it’s easy to see why.
The basilica is a veritable jewel of Romanesque and Gothic architecture that has endured through the ages, but not without passion and turmoil. Fires, crusades, looting, restoration, decline and rebirth: that’s how you might sum up over a thousand years of history.
After a recent restoration, the basilica is resplendent in its whiteness. The façade, but above all the interior, is breathtakingly beautiful. Inside, don’t miss the perspective of the choir, which is devoid of all ornament, but places the sunlight at the center of attention. In fact, during the summer solstice, when the sun is at its zenith, the light is projected at regular intervals, in perfect harmony with the proportions of the nave…