Tourist attractions Vézelay

This admirable church is set on a hill at the top of the village of Vézelay. The present basilica, one of the most beautiful in France, is partly Romanesque and has a vast, luminous nave with splendid statues. It was built in homage to St Magdalen wh..

At the heart of Burgundy, the mysterious Morvan massif spreads over four départements. Its geography and geology make it a distinct region, contrasting with its neighbours. Far from the major roads, the Morvan is the ideal place for those in search o..

In the house where Romain Rolland penned many of his novels are displayed the best items from a collection bequeathed to the town of Vézelay by Christian Zervos (d 1970). The founder of a publication called les Cahiers d’Art (1926-1960), he amassed..

Begun around 1200, Notre-Dame Church bears witness to the evolution of the Burgundian Gothic style from the 13C to the 15C. The 13C porch, restored by Viollet-le-Duc, houses graves dating from 1258. It opens through three doorways, one of which is de..

This typical medieval castle, built at the end of the 12C, has a trapezoidal plan, with three round towers and a rectangular dungeon (the fourth tower, with machicolations, was added in the 14C). Granted to Marshal Vauban in 1675 as a reward for taki..

The heavily fortified city of Avallon was, in medieval times, one of the gateways to Burgundy. From this period, it has retained many features which you will discover as you walk round the ramparts. It is best to start from the bastion of the Auxerre..

The earliest mention of the church of St Lazarus goes back to the 4C but the church dates in reality from the 11C. The façade is interesting on account of the two doorways featuring remarkable archivolts: small angels, the old men of the Apocalypse, ..

Perched on a rocky outcrop dominating the River Cure , the Château de Chastellux merits the detour required to get to it. Its earliest part dates to before 1116, making this one of the Morvan’s oldest fortresses, and it remains inhabited. Fot over 1..

Wrap up warm; the temperature in this cave is 12°. Visited by Buffon in 1740 and 1757, this succession of chambers and galleries, a 900m stretch of which may be visited, has draperies, stalactites and stalagmites. Overhead, flat ceiling sections alte..

The Promenade des Fossés follows the trace of the old ramparts which encircled the town in the Middle Ages which then had a series of seven round towers. The Porte Neuve (a gateway built from the 14 to the 16C) is flanked by two roughwork, machicolat..

Those wishing to learn a little about the character of Jules Roy (1907-2000) are able to visit the study and gardens of this writer and man of peace, who lies in Vézelay cemetery. From the terraces there are superb views over the landscape. The house..

Housed in a former 17C presbytery, the Regional Archaeological Museum contains finds uncovered during excavations carried out at the nearby Fontaines Salées site. Note, in particular, a proto-historic duct intended to channel the mineral springs. Als..

Excavations at the Fontaines Salées site uncovered a Celtic sanctuary and Gallo-Roman baths , thought to have been built here due to the presence of mineral springs. During your visit you will see a circular temple dating from 1C BC and a pool ded..

Situated on the border of the Morvan region, the small village of Pierre-Perthuis occupies a very picturesque position. The gates of a ruined 12C feudal castle give access to the village and to the church. The latter offers a fine view of the Cure Va..