Vézelay

View of Vézelay and facade of the basilica ( Fabian Fischer); David slaying Goliath on a capital ( Nicholas Thompson).

Located in the Burgundy region of France, the lovely town of Vézelay has a sense of simplicity and peaceful tranquility.

Vézelay is best known for the Basilica of St. Mary Magdalene, one of Europe's largest and best-preserved Romanesque churches. Its harmonious architecture is alive with fascinating sculptures of saints, sinners and biblical figures.

In the Middle Ages, Vézelay's basilica was a major pilgrimage destination thanks to its claimed relics of St. Mary Magdalene and its position along the route to Santiago de Compostela. Vézelay was also the site at which St. Bernard of Clairvaux preached the Second Crusade. There is even a bit of Protestant history here: Theodore Beza, a colleague of John Calvin in Geneva, was born in a house near the basilica. Follow a link below to explore this magnificent destination.

	Vézelay Map A detailed, interactive map of Vézelay.
	History of Vézelay A brief history of this important medieval city.
	Getting to Vézelay How to arrive in Vézelay by car or train.
	Vézelay Hotels Book a Vézelay hotel at Expedia.
	Vézelay Hotel Reviews Read unbiased reviews, compare prices and check availability on hotels in Vézelay.
	Burgundy Travel Forum Get travel advice and insider tips on travel in Burgundy from fellow travelers.
	France Car Rentals Explore Burgundy and anywhere else the road takes you with the freedom of your own rental car.

	Basilique Ste-Madeleine This 12th-century abbey church is the largest Romanesque church in France and was once a major pilgrimage destination due to its relics of Mary Magdalene.
	House of Theodore Beza A small plaque marks the house in Vézelay where John Calvin's right-hand man was born in 1519.

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