The Présence association in Vézelay today
Founded in 1979, Présence à Vézelay is a non-profit-making association under the law of 1901. Its mission is "to initiate, promote and implement any action that enhances the cultural and spiritual identity of Vézelay and its region" (excerpt from article 2 of its articles of association).
Since it opened in 2003, the Maison du Visiteur has been the association's flagship project.
The constant evolution of the company means that the team is constantly updating the content of its tours and creating new ones, such as the film on the sculpture of the great tympanum of the basilica in 2018 or the development of seminars on the reading of the capitals in 2025.
The relevance of the Maison du Visiteur's creations has led to requests for conferences, participation in exhibitions and the organisation of seminars in France and other countries: Belgium, Holland, the United Kingdom, Ireland and the United States.
How the association works
The Board of Directors
The association is managed by a Board of Directors currently made up of seven members:
- Véronique Feugère, President and former guide of the Maison du Visiteur
- Hélène Ramin, Vice-President and Educational Director of the Maison du Visiteur
- Élisabeth Toulet, secretary and guide at the Visitors' Centre
- Bruno Lebecq, Treasurer and retired civil servant
- Annick Lacroix, journalist
- Laurent Berthier, engineer
- Jean-Paul Doncoeur, retired
The team of volunteers and salaried staff
The association is run on a day-to-day basis by a team guides whose work is above all a passion: that of conveying to a wide range of audiences the richness of the architecture and sculpture of this world heritage site.
Members of the association
To date, the association has around sixty members.
The economics of the association
The Visitor Centre is run entirely by the Présence à Vézelay association. The income from the activities of the House is its main resource. Memberships, donations and sponsorship contribute to its balance and are essential to support and promote its development: aid for the creation of new content, support for research into history and architecture for educational purposes, partial funding for the reception and training of students, etc.
Without the synergy of community life and the free commitment of its organisers, most of whom are volunteers, the Maison du Visiteur would not be able to guarantee its cultural mission to such a wide audience.
Different ways of taking part in the life of the association
We need help in all areas to ensure that the Visitor Centre continues to thrive and flourish. If you are interested in our mission and would like to support us in any way, we would be delighted to hear from you.
If you are a private individual, you can :
- Contribute your time and skills From welcoming the public to administration, management, communication and the design and production of new media...
- Join the association which you can pay directly on the website Helloasso or download the 2025 membership form.
- Investing part of your savings by buying one or more shares in SCI l'Olifant, the owner of the Maison du Visiteur.
- Make a donation to support the work of the association with a reduction in income tax of 66 % and wealth tax of 75 %.
- Passing on a legacy or donation with a charge to the Arts and Cultures Endowment Fund. For this purpose, contact us.
If you are a company, you can :
- Cash sponsorship which generates a reduction in corporation tax of 60 % of the donation.
- Sponsorship of materials or skills which generates the same tax reduction as cash sponsorship.
We remain at your disposal to explain in more detail the tax advantages associated with these various proposals and to consider your involvement in the project in more concrete terms.
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