Who we are
Our history
Like most visitors to Vézelay,
we - the guides at the Maison du Visiteur - were dazzled
by discovering this exceptional site.
Romanesque art in Vézelay
The beauty of Romanesque art is a shock. It triggers an echo that will be all the greater the more people are prepared to receive it and respond to it.
These words by Marie-Madeleine Davy, which we have made our own, sum up the spark of a passion that we never cease to share with the many and varied visitors who climb the Eternal Hill. This sense of wonder was the cornerstone of the " Visitors' House "a project run by the association Presence at Vézelay ".
"Presence in Vézelay
A human adventure for a cultural challenge
The Présence à Vézelay association, whose primary vocation was to welcome pilgrims, was founded in 1979 on the initiative of Mr Jean Doncoeur, nephew of the Jesuit father Paul Doncoeur, who organised the memorable Peace Crusade in 1946 alongside the Benedictines.
On the death of Mr Jean Doncoeur, the members of the board of directors decided to entrust the association to younger members who would perpetuate its spirit for generations to come. With them, the concern to welcome visitors and pilgrims to Vézelay gradually shifted to the discovery of the town's heritage.
So it was that a small group of enthusiasts for Romanesque architecture and art history began their first visits to the basilica, which was then run by the Franciscans until their withdrawal in 1993.
Over the years, the growing number of visitors from a wide range of backgrounds has led to the emergence of a new need. Answering the many questions raised by this masterpiece of twelfth-century Romanesque art in the limited time available for a visit often provoked frustration among visitors.
Many of the thousands of people who crossed the threshold of the Basilica, although deeply moved by the beauty of the place, felt, beyond their first impressions, a desire to understand more about the construction of the building itself, its history, the reading of its capitals, the symbolism of its lights...
Little by little, the idea of creating a dedicated space offering introductory and educational content prior to tours a dedicated space that would enable everyone, young and old, to prepare for their discovery of the site and to gain a deeper understanding of the extraordinary cultural and spiritual wealth of this splendour of Romanesque art in Vézelay.
Visitors' House
A project driven by a zest for life
The Présence à Vézelay association and its members - who had very few resources to implement the project - decided to rely on the generosity of visitors by informing them of the project's intentions after each visit. And the gamble paid off! Thanks to the substantial generosity of donors, an old house in the heart of the village was acquired in 1994, and will become the future Visitors' House.
Providing support for the project, the franciscan presence was invaluable from the outset, as was theBenedictine abbey of Sainte-Marie de la Pierre-qui-Vire who later played an advisory role in developing the content of the visits, in particular with Brother Matthieu Collin, then in charge of the éditions Zodiaque.
Buoyed by this impetus, Présence à Vézelay informed the national cultural authorities of the nature of the project and the needs required to bring it to fruition. Another goal achieved!
A great deal of support was given:
1995
Creation of a video film co-produced withVézelay Tourist Officeunder the patronage of UNESCO's World Heritage Centre.
1996
Screening of the film at l'UNESCOto celebrate its 50th anniversary and present the Visitor Centre project. The project was awarded first prize for heritage by the Ford Foundation.
1998
The regional partners (Europe, State, region, département) agree to provide investment grants.
Companies such as Rocamat, Soframat-Etem and Saint-Gobain provide material support.
FROM 1999 TO 2002
The renovation and refurbishment of the Visitor Centre is proceeding apace.
The site is being opened up to a "rehabilitation site" devoted to exchanges and vocational training for young Italians, Lebanese and Ivorians. At the same time, the cultural content is being developed in collaboration with artists and Romanesque art historians.
Inauguration of the Visitor Centre
25 March 2003the inaugural reception entitled " Heritage, an opportunity for peace "is chaired by our late friend André Chouraquia poet, a writer, a free man engaged in the great battles of his time and a tireless witness in the service of humanity and peace. Speakers at the ceremony, François FejtöEuropean historian and member of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Khamliene NhouyvanisvongAmbassador, Deputy Permanent Delegate of Laos to UNESCO and Iris Aguettantan actress and director of the theatre "La première seconde".
At the inauguration, she exclaimed: " La Maison du Visiteur is a small house for a big project! "This is still our dearest wish: to ensure that as many people as possible benefit from the qualities of an art of building that is a source of inspiration and a point of reference in the trials and tribulations of our societies.
The event is also attended by all those who contributed to the implementation of the project: the builders, artists, historians, guides and cultural organisers...
Romanesque art Romanesque art in Vézelay
Today, as in the past, the motivation of our members and the contribution of a few generous donations continue to support the creation of cultural content.
While the DNA of the Maison du Visiteur is still rooted in the transmission of the beauty of Romanesque art in Vézelay, it is in a perpetual state of renewal to pass on this word of stone in the best possible way and, in particular, to adapt to younger generations whose need for reference points is immense.
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