LA MAISON DU VISITEUR
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!
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Members' reviews on LA MAISON DU VISITEUR
Tout est bien documenté. Le guide connaissait sa matière. Il a tout expliqué de façon à la fois très complète et facile à comprendre.
La Maison du visiteur est un incontournable pour pleinement profiter d’une visite à Vézelay.
Je recommande sans réserves!
(Jean Boisjoli - Canada)
Pour votre information, sachez que nous avons un nouveau film qui sortira le mois prochain "la Danse du Nouvel Adam" sur la sculpture du grand tympan dans la basilique.
En espérant le plaisir de vous accueillir de nouveau à Vézelay., recevez nos meilleurs vœux pour 2018,
Christopher Kelly, La Maison du Visiteur
All day, these students eagerly progressed from one activity to another: experiencing the climb from the Church of Saint Jacques (outside Vezelay) where pilgrims of another epoch deposed all they had to proceed humbly and in equality on the last stretch to the Basilica; the walk along field-hedges separating fields of crops, through a village and towards the clearing where Bernard de Clairvaux called for the Second Crusade. From there, they made a halt in the tiny, 800-year old Franciscan Chapel of La Cordelle for a moment of true silence. From there, the students continued climbing, up through the village of Vezelay, to the Basilica. Before entering however, we stopped at the Visitors’ Center and learned about the spiritual and philosophical construction of this UNESCO heritage building: a place dedicated to peace, to light (both physical and spiritual), and to dialogue.
Christopher Kelly provided enthralling explanations of Medieval geometry and astronomy with a demonstration (using lights and a model of Vezelay) of the genius that went into the building of the Basilica as a union of stone (humankind) and grace (God). Mr. Kelly introduced the students to the profound symbolism that permeates every aspect of this edifice. In the afternoon, the sixteen 13-year-olds sketched one aspect of the Basilica that impressed them and then, in a darkened room, they reproduced by “heart-memory” what they had drawn. Finally, they presented both original sketch and “blind” copy to the group who silently viewed them. The effect of the spiritual imprint of the light, forms, and emotion that inspired the first sketch were obvious to everyone in the second.
Finally, it’s important to note that in an age where adolescents are often glued to phones and have difficulty appreciating the depth and wealth of our religious, cultural and spiritual heritage, these sixteen students were attentive and engaged throughout the day. I highly recommend this sight to any teacher wishing to transmit something of Vezelay’s immense beauty and riches to the younger generation. (I would recommend it, in fact, for any person wishing a truly spiritual, inner understanding of the cultural jewel that Vezelay represents.)