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Sacred places
Sacred places
Sacred places
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11 juin 2007

Vézelay, the basilica

Always when I approach a high-place, Milan comes to wish me welcome… This time, they were several, I do not have them all on the photograph…vezelay_msm_bourges_st_bertrand_002

The history of the abbey and the town of Vézelay is long and important. The origins are in the valley of the Cure to the foot of the hill, with the site of the old village of Saint-Père, where the existence of a pagan temple and an oratory Saint-Jean-Baptist is known for a long time. The abbey of Vézelay finds its origin with the foundation about year 858 of a monastery of women nuns in the valley, by the count Girard of Roussillon and his Berthe wife. The convent obtains the direct protection of the pope into 863. A few years after, the convent is destroyed by the Norman ones and one decides to move it on the high close hill, easier to defend. Here is then created a new monastery Benedictine of men, directed by the Eudes abbot, with monks probably come from Autun. The monastery is surrounded by an enclosure and is dedicated to Saint-Pierre, Saint-Paul and Sainte-Marie. A first Carolingian church is devoted into 878. A fire at the beginning of Xth century requires restorations. The abbey becomes increasingly important after the arrival of the relics of Sainte-Marie-Madeleine, arrivals of Provence and confirmed about 1050 by the pope. The abbey one is then dedicated to Sainte-Marie-Madeleine. vezelay_msm_bourges_st_bertrand_023

The frontage of the basilica composite, is mutilated and restored, dating from the XIIth to the XIXth century.  Its construction completed large the roman abbey. The three gates of the lower stage are of this time, but the sculptures and Roman tympanums mutilated during the history disappeared.

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The large central gate has a tympanum with the Last Judgement carved in 1856. Large Christ in Majesty, the lintel, the curves and the pier are all of this modern time and replace the Roman sculptures partially preserved at the museum of the abbey. The two side gates are more modest. 

Some capitals date from the XIIth century, the others are modern copies. The central part of the frontage is occupied by a pinion of the medium of the XIIIth century with several statues of Christ, the Virgin, angels and saints. The pinion is flanked bases of the two turns, with the blind arcades of the XIIth century, only the southern tower is completed. It is the Tower Saint Michel whose higher stage is of the XIIIth century, restored by Viollet Le Duc who built the balustrade with the XIXth century.

large the narthex, added about 1140-1150 like spaces reception for the pilgrims, place of gathering and preparation

VEZELAYnar2 is equipped with Roman sculptures which are among most beautiful which is: a collection of capitals complementary to those of the nave, but especially the three gates which open on the nave. The central gate is the glory of Vézelay and one of the most beautiful Roman gates in France. The whole of an enormous richness is carved about 1125-1130 and represents the miracle of Pentecost, with the sending of the Apostles around Christ in Majesty. Its majestic body occupies the mandorle, its hands send rays to the heads of the twelve apostles. The scene is surrounded by eight compartments where several scenes of saints and varied people are carved.VEZELAYchrist

The broad lintel under the tympanum is populated by strange characters: one notices Scythians, the Roman world, the macrobii, the Pygmies and Panotii with their disproportionate ears.

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It is supported by the pier where the figure of Saint-Jean-Baptist was mutilated with the Revolution. Two lines of curves surround this unit: first is made up of 29 medallions containing the Signs of the zodiac and Work of the Months; second is carved of palmettes. On the capitals one can recognize driven out Adam and Eve of the terrestrial paradise, a fabulous Faunesse and bird.

After the narthex, one continues with the great nave, whose architecture is former. It is undoubtedly the most beautiful part of the basilica: a Roman wonder, built between 1120 and 1140, penetrated by an abundant and mystical light. vez1

More still than the narthex, the nave is remarkable by its Roman capitals. The sculptures are gone back to 1125-1140. On the whole of 100 capitals of the nave, 8 are replaced with the XIXth century by copies and 25 are carved floral foliages and reasons. The other capitals are historiated and one can discover there stone the bible, a medieval world full with mysteries.vezelay_msm_bourges_st_bertrand_047

The chorus and the transept are built at the end of the XIIth century in the new primitive Gothic style after the fire into 1165 which destroyed the Romance chorus of the years 1100. This part of the church is very luminous and is opposed to the Roman nave by its very different style.VEZELAYcr

Under the chorus the crypt is where the relics of sainte-Madeleine are preserved. She preserves the vestiges of a first crypt of the Carolingian abbey  of the IXth century: the small space arched in cradle on the western side of the crypt, where the hunting of the relics is preserved, would be of this time. st_michel_bourges_le_puy_v_zelay_075__1600x1200_The current crypt was built after the fire of 1165 in a style semi-novel, semi-Gothic. The groined vaults of the 7 spans are carried by columns monoliths with the smooth capitals. Some frescos of the XIIIth century are preserved there, of which a Christ in majesty.

Formerly, an important whole of monastic buildings was with the southern side of the church around a central cloister. These constructions were mainly destroyed after the Revolution. Today only the building of the monks against the transept of the church remains. The ground floor of this building dates from second half of the XIIth century and is composed of two Roman rooms. Most important is the chapter house, today vault of the Blessed Sacrament, restored by Viollet le Duc. One finds a medallion of Saint Michel  there embanking the dragon… st_michel_bourges_le_puy_v_zelay_067__1600x1200_

The following room is also arched warheads, it is not visited. This building in the beginning was flanked at the western side of the cloister, rebuilt with the XIIIth century then destroyed at the end of the XVIIIth century.  The site of the courtyard of the cloister is clearly visible and a well is still preserved there. Here is under ground a Roman, important but inaccessible water cistern, with two naves in cradle carried by nine columns. Against the side wall of the basilica since 1851 the large stones of the old tympanum of the frontage are deposited. (Eduard Van Boxtel, site on the Romanesque art)

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