Like many medieval religious sites, Vézelay’s history is marked by episodes of conflict and upheaval. The Hundred Years’ War and Decline During the 14th and 15th centuries, Vézelay suffered from the devastations of the Hundred Years’ War between France and England. The town was sacked several times, and the abbey’s fortunes declined as

Vézelay’s Abbey of Sainte-Marie-Madeleine is one of the finest examples of Romanesque architecture in France. Its historical and artistic significance cannot be overstated. The abbey church, built mainly in the 12th century, embodies the religious zeal and architectural innovation of its time. Romanesque Architecture The abbey’s design featu

Vézelay’s international prominence peaked during the 12th and 13th centuries, particularly in connection with the Crusades, the military campaigns initiated by Western Christendom to reclaim the Holy Land from Muslim control. Two of the most notable events occurred in Vézelay in the 12th century: The 1146 Council and the Second Crusade In

Nestled in the heart of Burgundy in north-central France, Vézelay is a small hilltop town with an outsized significance in European history. Renowned primarily for its monumental Abbey of Sainte-Marie-Madeleine (Basilica of Mary Magdalene), Vézelay has been a vital pilgrimage site, a center of medieval religious life, and a beacon of cultural her