韦兹莱教堂

Great basilica in Vezelay, approached by a steep hill. Worth every step of the climb. As well as the Basilica, there are often exhibitions in art galleries nearby and a fair sometimes takes place on the green behind the church. The crypt is said to contain the relics of Mary Magdelen - again, well worth the time to visit.

If its meditative atmosphere that your soul craves, then head to this amazing basilica, only a 240 km flight away from Paris. Atop a hill, this jewel of Renaissance art has watched over the village since the 12th-Century. Some of the narrow, twisting streets date back to the 15th-Century, are filled with tourists following in the footsteps of great writers such as Bataille, Claudel and Eluarde. There is a calm that registers strongly, even elevating 'yours truly' to an 'inspired state when we heard the four voiced vespers sung by monks and nuns, creating an intense and very emotional experience. Sure, its impossible to discuss Vezalay without mentioning its basilica. Yet for me, it is the charming lanes, ancient houses and the cuisine of the Mare Meneau that deserves a lot of attention too. Serge Gainsbourg spent the last years of his life here and no wonder, every wall,every street drips with history, some of it significant. At Le Pontot, a favourite drinking spot for locals, we enjoyed a pastis and sampled the local vino, while being advised to go back and indulge in the basilica gardens. Once ensconced there, its like standing in front of a vast horizon, green, blue, yellow and with the cool buildings framing the scene. Unforgetable.

Historical Bascilica set in lovely grounds on top of a hill with panoramic views. At the moment the crypt and the apse are undergoing repair so cannot enter these areas but still can appreciate the Basilica.

we have visited previously; they are restoring much of the church now, which is scheduled to be done in 2015. Still a nice walk to the top around it for the narrow old streets/shops and views.

This medieval basilique is at the top of a winding road in Vezelay but is well worth the walk. It is a stark, bare bones cathedral in contrast to many that you see throughout Europe but that is part of what makes it striking. It is in excellent condition given its age and parts of it were under restoration when we were there. On the backside of the basilique there is a beautiful yard with benches and wonderful panoramic views of Burgundy for miles.

Unfortunately for us, the entire altar area was being restored and was all closed off so that was a big disappointment. We were lucky enough to get a parking space in the area next to the Basilique as it is a long walk up a pretty steep hill to get there and it was drizzling. It is very stark, no stained glass and so I was somewhat disappointed, but should have read my tourist information more closely. On a beautiful day, I'm sure the view makes a big difference.

The panoramic views from the top are stunning.Oh - yes - it's a World Heritage site and the Basilica is pretty special too!It's magnificent - do visit.

The Basilique Sainte-Marie-Madeleine de Vézelay is is located in the village of Vézelay - one of the 'plus beaux villages en France' - in the Yonne department of the Bourgogne region. The Basilique and the village of Vézelay are also UNESCO world heritage sites.It's not hard to see why - as you approach the entrance to the village, it's like stepping back in time.Once famed for housing the remains of Mary Magdalene, the Basilique was a major medieval pilgrimage destination. The story goes that, not long before the end of the 10th century, a monk was said to have brought the remains of Mary Magdalene to Vézelay from the tombs of Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume in Provence. After two centuries, the monks of Saint Maximinus made the counter-claim that the remains of Mary Magdalene were still, in fact, in their midst - and Vézelay's importance as a pilgrimage destination waned. (In the 19th century, with the aim of restoring its pilgrimage status, the Archbishop of Sens brought another Magdalene relic to the Basilique. They're housed in the ancient crypt.)The largest Romanesque church in France, the Basilique is one of the masterpieces of Burgundian Romanesque art and architecture. The simplicity and sobriety of the design contrasts with the intricacy of the sculptures that decorate the tympanum and the capitals of the imposing columns - while the vast, vaulted the interior is almost strangely luminous. We didn't know at the time of our visit, but later learned that the Basilique was built in alignment with the sun and, at the summer solstice, the rays of the sun filter through the tall windows project onto the floor of the central nave in a chemin de lumière (path of light). If you're in the Bourgogne, make sure you visit Vézelay and its Basilique magnifique.

I couldn't tell you the difference between Byzantine, Romanesque, or Gothic architecture, but we thoroughly enjoyed our walk through this Cathederal.The old town of Vezelay is quite nice as well, even if only consisting of one street.

This is an outstanding Romanesque- Gothic Basilica and the highlight is the Tympanum which is truly remarkableThe crypt still contains relics of Mary Magdaline - amazing !A tour of the exterior is worth doing and there is a fine view from below the Chateau TerraceA highlight of a visit to Vezelay

It is truly remarkable to walk up through the village of little shops and then arrive at this beautiful Benedictine and Cluniac Monastery. The monastery which is now a Basilica is one of the outstanding masterpieces of Burgundian Romanesque architecture. It stands at the top of the hill and dominates Vezeley's surroundings and there are spectacular panoramic views from the Basilica terraces. In the 12th Century it was at the height of its glory, claiming to house the relics of Mary Magdalene. It suffered an attack by the Huguenots in 1569, and was then badly neglected in the 17th and the 18th centuries. It was further damaged during the French Revolution but was then restored in the 1840s by Viollet-le-Duc, the famous 19th Century restoration architect. In 1979 the Basilica along with the village of Vezeley was made UNESCO World Heritage Site. Now, although the walls are quite bare by Basilica standards, the height of the structure internally is quite breathtaking (the nave is 62 meters long). As per the previous reviews, to be there on a day that some monks and nuns were singing in the Choir of Ste-Madeleine was a true never to be repeated experience; their incredible, harmonious voices filled the Basilica.

La Basilique Sainte Marie-Madeleine sits at the top of this village on a hill. Aside from commanding views of the gorgeous countryside, it is a beautiful example of Romanesque architecture. We actually enjoyed touring about the cathedral and the quaint village of Vezelay rising up from the surrounding fields as much as contemplating its historic significance in Christiandom. One story claims (from 1050 a.d.) that the relics of Mary Magdalene are enshrined here (in the crypt...appropriately) and on display, while another story claims the relics are still in Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume in Provence. Whose story is right? It was a fun question to ponder while enjoying lunch at one of the cafes located just at the foot of the cathedral during our stop on our way through Burgundy. Well worth the few hours we passed to enjoy the magnificent scenery and the little village of Vezelay. The lingering mystery also helps distract from the ever-present if subtle commercialism of this place.

I have visited this church many times as is undoubtedly one of the treasures of France and a real must for visitors to Burgundy. It stands at the top of the hill and you get there by walking up the narrow street which is lined by shops and restaurants. When you get to the top there is a great view of the surrounding area especially if you go around the back of the basilica on to a terrace. You can see a long way over vineyards on the hills around. I like to go on to the terrace in the evening and enjoy the view under the stars. The basilica itself is amazing, with its narthex (entrance area) and sculpture over the doorway. Beyond that is the main part of the church, filled with light and, at many times during the day, by the singing of the monks and nuns who live in the village. This year In early August I went to the Son et Lumiere, a spectacular colourful light show which depicts the history of the basilica including the pilgrimage to the relics of St Mary Magdalene and its importance on the route to the shrine of St James at Compostella in Spain. This is a heavenly place and the architecture and setting are just stunning.

We arrived at this huge yet austere Byzantine cathedral towards the end of a mass. Fortunately, the scale of the place did not limit our ability to wander without disturbing the worshipers. The first thing that struck me was how light and bright the interior was. It reminds one of paintings of church interiors by early Flemish painters. It was a result of larger than normal windows and the limited use of colored glass. While attendees were somewhat scarce, there were scores of monks and nuns attending as worshipers and participants.The church boasts relics of Mary Magdalene, though they are rather small and hard to distinguish. The attached abbey and cemetery are also worth a look.

There was something rather different about the atmosphere in this church compared to many other churches and cathedrals I have visited in France. The plainness of the interior filled with light gives it the feeling of almost not being a church until you go into the crypt to see the relics and then suddenly you feel as if you are back in the Middle Ages about to launch off on a pilgrimage.