The Basilica of Sainte-Marie-Madeleine in Vézelay is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of France’s most important historic landmarks. We invite you to participate in our ongoing campaign to restore this jewel of Romanesque architecture in Burgundy.
Make a tax-deductible contribution today
Over 1,000 Years of History
Perched high on the hillside amidst the vineyards of Vézelay, the Basilica Sainte-Marie-Madeleine is an architectural treasure between heaven and earth. Founded in the 9th century as a Benedictine abbey, the church became renowned in the 11th century thanks to its relics of Sainte-Marie-Madeleine, the first witness to Christ’s resurrection. In the 12th century, the abbey church, built on top of the “eternal hill”, became an important pilgrimage site and stop along the route to Santiago de Compostela. Thousands of pilgrims still come here every year.
Elevated to the rank of basilica by the Vatican in 1920, and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979, the Vézelay Basilica is a testament to the architectural ingenuity that has amazed pilgrims and visitors alike for over 1,000 years.
A Basilica of Light
The monks who built the basilica created an architecture of light, closely linked to the path of the sun. The play of the sun’s rays, particularly visible during the summer and winter solstices, offers visitors a breathtaking spectacle.
The basilica’s architecture and sculpted decoration make it unique in the world, with its Romanesque capitals featuring surprising motifs and stories, unique in style and variety. Its tympanum, depicting Christ in glory, is one of the greatest masterpieces of Romanesque sculpture in France.
“The sun was rising. A thick fog still lay over the valley, pierced here and there by the tops of the trees. Above it appeared the town, like a pyramid resplendent with light. […] The spectacle was magnificent, and I approached the church of the Madeleine already predisposed to admiration.” – Prosper Mérimée, Inspector General of Historic Monuments, in his
Voyage dans le midi de la France.
First restored in the 19th century by Eugène Viollet-le-Duc, the architect of the spire of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, the basilica has benefited from numerous restoration campaigns in recent years, notably of the choir, the crypt, and the Saint-Antoine tower.
Attention has now turned to restoring the Basilica’s nave and side aisles. Your gift will directly contribute to this vital work, helping to safeguard one of the greatest monuments of Western Romanesque art, nestled in one of France’s most beautiful villages.
Join FHS in restoring an essential piece of French religious heritage by making a contribution today.
For further information about this campaign, please contact
Samantha Kohli-Brisolier, Programs ManagerEmail : samantha@frenchheritagesociety.org
Tel : +33 (0) 1 40 70 07 57
Various pictures of the interior of the Basilique de Vézelay
© Maison du Visiteur
