Vézelay and Santiago de Compostella.
A mystic village for pilgrims
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The way of Vézelay constitutes a route crossroads of the pilgrims coming from North (Belgium, Lorraine, Champagne-Ardennes and burgundy regions). The relics of Mary Magdalen, attract in the medium 11th century of many pilgrims and make city, a head of way on the "Via Lemovicensis". |
In terms of it starting point, the pilgrim, on the way to Santiago de Compostella, had to choice between four routes and four meeting points : Paris/Tours, Vézelay, Le Puy en Velay and Arles . From Vézelay, there were two itineraries, one through Bourges via la Charité sur Loire and one through Nevers. Both routes rejoined each other in the Creuse region.
| From the 11th century, Vézelay and
its abbey were prosperous thanks to the great numbers of
pilgrims. So the village settled down to shelter all the
pilgrims even in the cellars. 2 Kms from Vézelay, in
Asquins, a rest center was opened for pilgrims and their
mount. A monk named Aimery Picaud is rumoured have
written there the first "Pilgrim's guide" (around
1135). In the church of Asquins, there is a shrine bust
in wood (XVIe) of Saint Jacques and a stained-glass (XIXe
) representing Saint Jacques in his pilgrim's clothes.
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On the east of Vézelay, a high cross in stone named "Montjoie" marks the place where the pilgrims set eyes upon the Basilica. Nowadays, pilgrims, with back-pack decorated with a shell, still climb the hill of Vézelay on the way to Santiago de Compostella. |
From Vézelay to Santiago :
1664 km or 1700 km - 67 to 68 days
of walking (25 km per day)
From Vézelay to Saint-Jean-Pied de Port via
Bourges : 884 km
From Vézelay to Saint-Jean Pied de Port via Nevers : 920 km
From Saint-Jean-Pied de Port to Santiago :
780 km - 32 days (25 km per day)
Association des
Amis et Pélerins de Saint-Jacques de la voie de Vézelay
24 Rue Saint-Pierre 89450 VEZELAY
Phone .03 86 32 38 11 Fax 05 53 51 16 76
Reception for
pilgrims all the weekends and holidays from March 15th till
October 15th.
www.amis-saint-jacques-de-compostelle.asso.fr
chassain.jean-charles@wanadoo.fr