Activities
School outings to Vézelay
Guides from the Maison du Visiteur accompany school trips to Vézelay as they explore the village and its basilica, helping them to appreciate the beauty of an architecture nine centuries removed from us, and to understand the meaning inscribed in the stone by the builders.
School levels
For all activities with the Visitor Centre, schools can receive funding from the Culture Pass.
High school and university students in Vézelay
Whether they are secondary school pupils or students, the worlds of young people, often saturated with images and noise, leave little room for silence, interiority and coherence. These are precisely the experiences they can have in the Basilica of Vézelay, a jewel of Romanesque architecture placed under the patronage of Saint Mary Magdalene.
Founded in the IXe century by a community of Benedictine monks, the abbey was rebuilt at the beginning of the 12th century.e century to meet the needs of pilgrims on their way to Compostela. In the XIXe In the 19th century, the abbey church was saved from ruin by the restoration work of the young architect Viollet-le-Duc.
A two-stage visit to the Basilica of Vézelay
1era STAGE - 1 HOUR
"The Basilica Unveiled" at the Maison du Visiteur
A time to see
Sitting in the semi-darkness of our projection room, the young people discover the basilica thanks to the film "À l'ombre de la lumière", which draws their attention to the beauty of the spaces and perspectives, the details of the sculpture, and the encounter between stone and light.
Time to understand
- In the "model room", an animated 3D model showing the sun's annual path through the basilica explains why and how the builders created exceptional lighting effects inside the abbey church.
- A commentary on the plan of the basilica provides historical, technical and symbolic information to help you make your way around this stone vessel.
- The measuring instruments on display (the pigeon and the 13-knot rope) bear witness to an age-old art of building.
2e STAGE - 1 HOUR
Guided tour of the Basilica of Vézelay
Guide(s) from the Visitor Centre accompany young people and their teachers into the basilica to observe and appreciate the spaces, the play of light and the images carved into the stone. They will discover the capitals in their original context and become aware of their timeless messages.
This discovery in situencourages their personal involvement by expressing what they perceive.
The visit can be punctuated by references to Viollet-le-Duc's restoration work.
Worth noting
The " Guided tour of the basilica "Group visits can take place without the Maison du Visiteur guides if the teachers wish to take over from them. All group visits must be authorised, and the Visitor Centre is responsible for booking the group's passage through the basilica.
You can complement this tour with various activities organised by the Visitor Centre
Duration 1 h 45
The "Historical Walk
The walk begins in the village of Asquins, from where you can admire the basilica and the village of Vézelay perched on the summit of the Eternal Hill. The guide talks about the Pilgrim's Way to Santiago de Compostela, and the 2.5km walk begins in the footsteps of the pilgrims. During this peregrination, the great figures in the history of Vézelay are evoked: Mary Magdalene, Bernard of Clairvaux, Francis of Assisi...
This walk is recommended before the " A two-stage tour of the basilica ".
Duration 2 h 15
Eye and Drawing" workshop in the basilica
After explaining the aim of the workshop and how it will be run, the guide takes the youngsters into the basilica, where they first have to look around and be inspired by the beautiful work before drawing.
This first stage of observation allows the pupils to choose a particular perspective or detail... and to venture, pencil in hand, to express what they see. The workshop ends with them sharing their ideas.
Attendance at this workshop is recommended after the " A two-stage tour of the basilica ".
Duration 2 h 15
Sculpture reading" workshop
The basilica contains over 120 carved capitals that tell different stories.
The students, divided into pairs, are given the task of reading and interpreting a marquee with the help of a sheet provided by the guide. Each pair then presents their marquee to the others; speaking in front of others is a highly formative exercise.
Attendance at this workshop is recommended after the " A two-stage tour of the basilica ".
Heritage education for secondary school pupils in 5e, 4e and 3e in Vézelay
A visit to the Romanesque basilica of Vézelay is a magnificent introduction to medieval history. But how do you get teenagers interested in heritage, especially religious heritage?
Our tours for schoolchildren focus on the skills of the builders: the reconstruction of the basilica of Vézelay at the beginning of the 12th centurye The works of this century bear witness to an intelligence, knowledge and talent that will astonish teenagers. They will discover a way of working that does not separate conception from execution, the function of a church and its different spaces, the prodigious phenomenon of the pilgrimages to Compostela, the role of the monks present on the Eternal Hill since the 9th century, the role of the monks and the role of the priests.e century.
A two-stage visit to the Basilica of Vézelay
1era STAGE - 40 MINUTES
"The Basilica Unveiled" at the Maison du Visiteur
A time to see
After passing through the symbolic door, the guide takes the students into the projection room. The film "À l'ombre de la lumière" (In the shadow of light) awakens the eyes and senses to appreciate the work of the builders.
Time to understand
- In the "model room", the guide as "master builder" presents the work of the builders through :
- A large-format map of the basilica;
- A 3D model that recreates the play of light and the annual trajectory of the sun above the basilica at the solstices and equinoxes, providing an introduction to the symbolic approach to light and explaining the importance that the builders attached to it;
- The reference tools (in the absence of computers!): the master builder's rule and the 13-knot rope;
- Reproductions of historiated capitals within easy reach.
2e STAGE - 45 MINUTES
Guided tour of the Basilica of Vézelay
The guide(s) from the Visitors' Centre accompany the young people and their teachers into the basilica to observe and appreciate the spaces, the play of light and the images sculpted into the stone.
This discovery in situIt encourages their personal involvement and invites them to express their feelings.
Worth noting
The " Guided tour of the basilica "Group visits can take place without the Maison du Visiteur guides if the teachers wish to take over from them. All group visits must be authorised, and the Visitor Centre is responsible for booking the group's passage through the basilica.
You can complement this tour with various activities organised by the Visitor Centre
Duration 1 h 45
The "Historical Walk
The walk begins in the village of Asquins, from where you can admire the basilica and the village of Vézelay perched on the summit of the Eternal Hill. The guide talks about the Pilgrim's Way to Santiago de Compostela, and the 2.5km walk begins in the footsteps of the pilgrims. During this peregrination, the great figures in the history of Vézelay are evoked: Mary Magdalene, Bernard of Clairvaux, Francis of Assisi...
This walk is recommended before the " A two-stage tour of the basilica ".
Duration 2 h 15
Eye and Drawing" workshop in the basilica
After explaining the aim of the workshop and how it will be run, the guide takes the youngsters into the basilica, where they first have to look around and be inspired by the beautiful work before drawing.
This first stage of observation allows the pupils to choose a particular perspective or detail... and to venture, pencil in hand, to express what they see. The workshop ends with them sharing their ideas.
Attendance at this workshop is recommended after the " A two-stage tour of the basilica ".
Duration 2 h 15
Sculpture reading" workshop
The basilica contains over 120 carved capitals that tell different stories.
The students, divided into pairs, are given the task of reading and interpreting a marquee with the help of a sheet provided by the guide. Each pair then presents their marquee to the others; speaking in front of others is a highly formative exercise.
Attendance at this workshop is recommended after the " A two-stage tour of the basilica ".
Heritage education for primary classes (CE1 to CM2) and 6-year-oldse in Vézelay
Children don't approach heritage in the same way as adults. We need to introduce them to a story that will spark their imagination. Here, the heroes are builders, "oeuvriers", "imagiers" and Benedictine monks. Various means are used to ensure that young pupils' first contact with heritage fills them with wonder.
On the other hand, a visit to a religious building by pupils in state schools must respect secularism and the plurality of religious faiths, without overlooking the function of a church, Christian culture and the importance of religious pilgrimages, which led to the enlargement of the Basilica of Vézelay in the 12th century.e century.
A two-stage visit to the Basilica of Vézelay
1era STAGE - 30 MINUTES
"The Basilica Unveiled" at the Maison du Visiteur
A time to see
After passing through the symbolic door, the guide takes the students into the projection room. The film "In the Shadow of Light" shows the sculpture of the great interior tympanum (12th century).e century), as well as the play of light that takes place in the basilica at each change of season.
Time to understand
In front of a 3-D model of the basilica placed under the path of the sun, the guide explains why and how the builders played with light thanks to their extensive knowledge of the stars. They didn't use the decimal system, and the way they handled the pigeon and the 13-knot rope introduces students to an astonishing level of know-how.
2e STAGE - 50 MINUTES
Guided tour of the Basilica of Vézelay
The guide takes the students around the outside of the basilica, orienting them in relation to the sun. He tells them about the long pilgrimage to Compostela and the reasons for it. He tells them about "Sainte-Marie-Madeleine", after whom the basilica is named.
Inside, the children will be able to name the different spaces and understand their function: the nave, the nave and the choir. The guide draws on their powers of observation, inviting them to name what they see and feel. With their participation, the guide will read one of the stories carved into the stone capitals by the "imagiers", as well as the great interior tympanum.
Worth noting
The " Guided tour of the basilica "Group visits can take place without the Maison du Visiteur guides if the teachers wish to take over from them. All group visits must be authorised, and the Visitor Centre is responsible for booking the group's passage through the basilica.
You can complement this tour with various activities organised by the Visitor Centre
Duration 1 h 45
The "Historical Walk
From the village of Asquins, you can see the basilica and the village of Vézelay at the top of the Eternal Hill. The guide evokes the routes to Compostela and leads the pupils in the footsteps of the pilgrims (2.5 km): through walking, physical effort and sharing, the pupils get a real insight into the pilgrimage process. With the guide, they will discover the great figures in the history of Vézelay.
Shorter option - Duration 0 h 40
Walking along the ramparts, passing under the fortified "New Gate" with its casemate, climbing or descending the stairs: this shorter tour allows you to talk about the pilgrimages to Compostela and the defensive role of the walls.
This walk can take place after the " A two-stage tour of the basilica "
This walk is recommended before the " A two-stage tour of the basilica ".
Duration 1 h 30
Eye and Drawing" workshop in the basilica
After explaining the aim of the workshop and how it will be run, the guide will take them through the basilica: the idea is to look first, to be inspired by the beautiful work before drawing. This first stage allows the students to choose a particular perspective or detail... and then, with pencils in hand, venture to express what they see. The workshop ends with a shared conclusion.
Attendance at this workshop is recommended after the " A two-stage tour of the basilica ".
Duration 1 h 30
Sculpture reading" workshop
The basilica contains more than 120 sculpted capitals telling different stories. The guide suggests that students work in pairs or threes to draw the same capital. Each group then presents their drawings to the others, explaining the meaning of the capital they have drawn. The guide completes their explanations.
Attendance at this workshop is recommended after the " A two-stage tour of the basilica ".
Secondary school students
Rates per person
Possibility of benefiting from the Culture Pass
A two-stage tour of the basilica : 13 €
"The Basilica Unveiled" at the Maison du Visiteur : 7 €
The historic march : 7 €
The "Looking and Drawing" workshop : 13 €
The "Sculpture Reading" workshop : 13 €
Reservations
Dates and times on request for a minimum group rate of €90
- + 33 (0)3 86 33 81 04
- maisonduvisiteur@orange.fr
Primary & 6e
Rates per person
A two-stage tour of the basilica : 12 €
"The Basilica Unveiled" at the Maison du Visiteur : 6 €
The historic march : 6 €
The "Looking and Drawing" workshop : 12 €
The "Sculpture Reading" workshop : 12 €
Reservations
Dates and times on request for a minimum group rate of €90
- + 33 (0)3 86 33 81 04
- maisonduvisiteur@orange.fr
Opinions on School outings in Vézelay
They came to visit us
I'd like to thank you very much for the excellent guided tour we enjoyed on Friday. Thanks to your mediators, our pupils were able to experience and feel the exceptional character of this basilica and understand the keys to its architecture. They really felt at home in Vézelay. Thank you for your warm welcome. Congratulations on the quality of your service.
Lycée Quinet - Bourg en Bresse
Spring 2025
I came with a school group. Excellent welcome!
Very relevant and in-depth explanations.
Visiting Vézelay is one thing, but visiting Vézelay with the Visitor's House is a great experience.
On behalf of the whole group: thank you!
Armel M.
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