The dimensions of the famous pilgrimage church of Sainte Marie-Madeleine in Vézelay are overwhelming. But the ravages of time have not left the building unscathed. Shortly before its 900th anniversary, this magnificent church is now being thoroughly restored.
Burgundy alone, this scenically beautiful region in central France, has five UNESCO World Heritage Sites. One of these is the abbey church and town hill of Vézelay. Perched on the hill and visible from afar, the twelfth-century basilica is a late Romanesque building with early Gothic echoes. The approaching anniversary in 2020, which marks the 900th anniversary of the start of construction, was presumably taken as an opportunity to restore the magnificent church complex. Extensive restoration work, divided into three phases each lasting two years, began in 2014.
