World Heritage Photos

Vézelay, Church and Hill: Vézelay Abbey is located in the northern part of Burgundy in France. Vézelay Abbey is a masterpiece of Romanesque art and architecture. The church of the abbey, the Basilica Saint of Mary Magdalene, in Vézelay was an important medieval site of pilgrimage, the Carolingian crypte of the Church of Vézelay holds a relic of Mary Magdalene. Due to the pilgrimages, the town of Vézelay was rising up around the abbey. Vézelay Abbey is famous for its remarkable Romanesque sculptures that adorn the tympanums and capitals. The nave was constructed between 1120 and 1132 and is one of the oldest parts of the church, the vault has grey-white striped arches. The church is filled with more light than most Romanesque churches. Bernard of Clairvaux preached the Second Crusade at Vézelay in 1146. In 1189, Vézelay Abbey was the starting point for the Third Crusade. Vézelay Abbey, the Basilica St. of Mary Magdalene, in Vézelay is the starting point of the Via Lemovicensis, one of the four traditional French routes of the Way of St. James, or the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela. Vézelay has been recognized by 'Les Plus Beaux Villages de France' as one of the most beautiful villages of France. Vézelay is located some 48 km southwest of the UNESCO World Heritage Abbey of Fontenay in Montbard. Vézelay, Church and Hill, was declared a UNESCO World Heritage in 1979.

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   Vézelay, the Church and Hill: The Abbey Church of Vézelay is officially called the Basilique Sainte-Marie-Madeleine, the Basilica of Saint Mary Magdalene. The narthex has three sculpted portals, the 11th century nave was designed in order to bathe in light during the summer and the winter solstice. The magnificent church is the largest Romanesque church in France. 

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   Vézelay, Church and Hill: The Abbey Church, Basilica of St. Mary Magdalene, is renowned for its Romanesque tympanums. The tympanum above the main portal of the west façade was made in 1856, it depicts the Last Judgement, the original was destroyed during the French Revolution. Another tympanum depicts the Mission of the Apostles and the Preaching of the Good News. 

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   Vézelay, Church and Hill: The Carolingian crypt of the Abbey Church of Vézelay houses a relic of Mary Magdalene, she is also known as Mary of Magdala. The abbey was a major medieval site of pilgrimage. The Vézelay Abbey is an extraordinary masterpiece of the Burgundian Romanesque art and architecture. Vézelay Abbey is situated in the northern part of Burgundy in France.

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   Vézelay, Church and Hill: The 19th century reliquary containing a rib bone of Mary Magdalene. Other relics of Mary Magdalene were donated to the Abbey Church of Vézelay in 1281, these relics were burned during the French Wars of Religion in the 16th century. The present relic of Mary Magdalene was donated by the Archbishop of Sens and rest in the reliquary in the crypt.

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   Vézelay, the Church and Hill: The Abbey Church is filled with more light than most Romanesque churches. The Abbey Church of Vézelay is renowned for its remarkable Romanesque sculptures that adorn the tympanums and capitals. The nave was constructed in the period 1120-1132 and is one of the oldest parts of the church. The vault has striped arches.

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   Vézelay, Church and Hill: The columns of the Abbey Church of Vézelay are embellished with fine Romanesque capitals. The capitals of the nave are adorned with scenes from the Bible, the most famous of them is the Mystic Mill, depicting Moses from the Old Testament and Saint Paul from the New Testament. The church is officially called the Basilique Sainte-Marie-Madeleine.

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   Vézelay, Church and Hill: The west façade of the Basilica of St. Mary Magdalene of Vézelay. The Basilica of Vézelay is the former abbey church of a Benedictine monastery. The west façade of the basilica is adorned with statues of saints, such as John the Baptist and John the Evangelist. Vézelay, Church and Hill, gained status the as a UNESCO World Heritage in 1979.

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   Vézelay, Church and Hill: The Basilica of St. Mary Magdalene is situated on a hilltop, the highest point of the village of Vézelay. Some parts of the Romanesque church were rebuilt in the Gothic style. The interior of the Basilica of Saint Mary Magdalene, the Abbey Church of Vézelay, is much more impressive than its exterior suggests.

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   Vézelay, Church and Hill: Bernard of Clairvaux preached the Second Crusade at Vézelay in 1146. In 1189, the French King Philip II, the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick Barbarossa and the English King Richard the Lionheart met in Vézelay to leave for the Third Crusade. Frederick Barbarossa drowned during this crusade and on his way back to England, King Richard I of England, byname Richard the Lionheart, was captured in Austria.

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    Vézelay, the Church and Hill: A copper scallop shell in front of the Abbey Church of Vézelay. The scallop shell is the iconic symbol of the Route of Santiago de Compostela. The Route to Santiago the Compostela is signposted with the depictions of the scallop shell. The abbey church is the starting point of the Via Lemovicensis. The Via Lemovicensis is one of the four traditional main routes of the Route of Santiago de Compostela in France.