Things to see and do Vézelay

On the way up to the Basilica of Saint Mary Magdalene, the Visitor's House is an essential step for those who want to understand the monument and its entire universe. Indeed, we do not possess the keys to read the greatness of Vézelay and it is in this that the House of the visitor will accompany us. A warm welcome, which places us in front of a mysterious door on which nails form a spiral (one of the symbols that we will find in the Basilica). Once through the door, songs, music, images... everything immerses us in the history of this exceptional site. In the basement of the house, we discover how the builders of the Middle Ages oriented the building according to the course of the sun (the chevet always pointed towards the East), how they realized the Basilica according to perfect proportions. Finally, some reproductions of the magnificent capitals of the Basilica offer us a reading of these stone books. These are fascinating explanations and, in our opinion, indispensable for seeing the monument in a different light. Finally, the House of the Visitor also offers guided tours, such as "The Basilica Revealed" or the showing of a film on the great tympanum.

A special mention for the winter solstice tours which take place during the holidays and make you discover the basilica in a spectacular light, and even unique in the world! The visit is on reservation and lasts 1 hour. A wonderful opportunity to appreciate the magic of the Eternal Hill!

The Tourist Office of Vézelay offers ten audioguides that will accompany you during your visit to the city. Renowned for its buildings, wine and artists, it is full of anecdotes and stories of adventure. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site thanks to its basilica Sainte-Marie Madeleine, Vézelay is also a modern and state-of-the-art city: two applications for smartphone (Android and ios) allow you to visit the city! The itineraries called Vézelay unknown and Vézelay from yesterday to today are to be discovered on the website of the Office.

Tariff: 3 €.

Duration: 1:30.

Difficulty: easy.