Vézelay Abbey

A papal bull issued by Pope Nicholas I around 863 is known to have placed the foundation under the direct authority of the Holy See. Before 877, the nuns were replaced by a male community, probably consisting of monks from Saint-Martin Abbey of Autun (Saône-et-Loire). A bull issued by Pope John VIII in 878 mentions Eudes as the first abbot. The monastery did not remain at this site, as it was destroyed by a Norman raid in 887. This foundation was the predecessor of Sainte-Marie-Madeleine de Vézelay Abbey, to which the community moved at a more sheltered and fortified location. The relocation was initiated in the same year, although there is evidence that construction of the new monastery had already begun.

In the mid-11th century, under Abbot Boniface (1052–1075), the abbey came within Cluny’s sphere of influence (Saône-et-Loire), despite opposition from part of the community. It also became an important stopping point on the Way of Saint James. Its prosperity made it possible to build a new church to replace the earlier one. The works, initiated by Abbot Artaud, who held office from 1096 to 1106, culminated in the consecration of the building in 1104. Following a fire, the church was rebuilt between 1120 and 1140. Pope Innocent II consecrated the porch in 1132. A second fire destroyed the eastern end in 1165, and it was rebuilt towards the end of that century.

In the 19th century, Viollet-le-Duc undertook restoration work on the building. In 1840, it was listed as a historic monument, helping to ensure its preservation. Since 1920, it has held the title of basilica. Its artistic importance has made it a major tourist destination. The church is a remarkable Romanesque building, dating predominantly from the 12th century, although some parts have been reconstructed. The western façade results from 13th-century alterations and 19th-century restoration work, while the portal is Neo-Romanesque. It leads into an almost square porch, whose vaults are supported by four columns.

The transept does not project beyond the width of the aisles. At the eastern end, the church terminates in a late-12th-century chevet, with the chancel surrounded by an ambulatory and nine radiating chapels. A crypt lies beneath the chevet. To the south of the church stands the medieval chapter house. At Saint-Père, some structures belonging to the original nunnery also survive, built over Late Antique remains.