Saint-Père - Notre-Dame (PiP)

Seen on the right is the bell tower of Notre-Dame. The 50m high tower is considered a masterpiece of the flamboyant Gothic style.

In 858 the Count of Vienne and his wife Berthe founded a monastery here, but already in 873, it was looted and completely devastated by the Normans. The monks (and nuns) rebuilt the convent on the hill above Saint-Père on a place, that later developed into a main pilgrim place of the medieval times: Vezelay. The tower can be seen on the hill. The Via Lemovicensis (aka "Voie de Vézelay") began up there. I had started my hike in Trier (Trèves) in 2005 it took me about 5 weeks to reach Vezelay. From here the "chemin" was much easier to find.

I have uploaded already many photos taken in and around Vezelay, so I will add only two this time.