Internship Description
This internship offers graduate students in architecture, art history, or the humanities the opportunity to train as cultural mediators, bridging 21st-century visitors with a 12th-century architectural masterpiece.
The training period includes an in-depth introduction to the Basilica of Vézelay—an extraordinary UNESCO World Heritage Site—along with instruction from a dedicated tutor on how to lead a two-part guided tour. Training also includes workshops in public speaking and the study of relevant reference materials.
After this preparatory work, the intern will lead guided tours for individuals and groups at the Maison du Visiteur (the Visitor Center) and inside the Basilica. The intern will join a multidisciplinary team specializing in heritage mediation, sharing a daily team lunch. Several hours each week are reserved for personal research in the “scriptorium,” a late-12th-century room within the research center.
Throughout the internship, the candidate will deepen their understanding of Romanesque art, architectural symbolism, construction techniques, and the historical context of Vézelay—while exploring the contemporary relevance of this medieval heritage.
Responsibilities
- Guide members of the public at the Maison du Visiteur, the Visitor Center, and inside the Basilica.
- Welcome, inform, and advise visitors regarding tours.
- Manage ticket sales through the ticketing software and process payments.
- Advise on and sell items in the gift shop.
- Support the daily upkeep and maintenance of the premises.
About Vézelay
For over 900 years, the ancient abbey church of Vézelay has crowned a hilltop in Burgundy. Throughout the year—particularly at the solstices and equinoxes—the sun interacts with the stone architecture to create remarkable light effects.
Dedicated to Mary Magdalene, Vézelay has been a major meeting point for pilgrims on the Camino de Santiago since the Middle Ages. Elevated to the rank of Basilica in 1920 and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979, it welcomes over one million visitors annually.
Art lovers, historians, pilgrims, tourists, and visitors from around the world climb the hill seeking beauty, meaning, inspiration, or renewal in this masterpiece of Romanesque architecture.
Application Procedure
Complete the online application and submit the following:
- Résumé
- Cover Letter
- Case Study (500 words):
“Discuss effective communication strategies to engage the younger generation with a historical exhibition. “
