Maison du Visiteur — Attraction in Avallon

I cannot recommend strongly enough a stop at La Maison du Visiteur for anyone visiting Vézelay, whether it be for the first or the tenth time. Unlike many traditional guides, the staff at the La Maison understand that visitors need not only to learn about the history of the Basilica, but also to feel a link between the creators of the church and their own lives. And this is exactly what they do: they take us beyond an understanding of the Basilica's marvelous architecture and sculpture, to a place where we sense a personal connection (whatever our own religious beliefs may be) to the sculptural and architectural representations of the inner struggles that all people face in their lives. In this way the visit becomes a journey toward a deeper understanding of ourselves, all while learning about the glories of French Romanesque art and...

Today we have visited “la basilique de Sainte Madeleine” in Vezelay. Our guide was Christopher of “La Maison du Visiteur de Vezelay”. It was for us the third time we’ve visited Vezelay and we thought we knew already a lot about the basilique but today we have learned a lot of very important things about the architecture and the meaning of various symbols that were used hundreds of years ago. Christopher had a well structured explanation, took his time for all our questions and showed us “the path of light”. Really impressing. Afterwards we went back to “La Maison” and there we had a very instructive lightshow and an amazing film. We are so glad that we’ve decided to let us been guided by Christopher. It is absolutely worth while. In one word: Great! Bart & Mariken...

It was surprising to experience the guides of 'La Maison du Visiteur'. Christopher in particular guided us with great passion in a world of symbolism, wisdom, light and love in an accessible warm hearted en calm way. He broadened our understanding of the Basilica of Light wich made me feel how heaven and earth are intertwined in this building and although the Basilica dates back to the 12th century, it is so alive and 'up to date' in our contemporary world. An absolute must to be immersed in this world by the guides of 'La Maison du Visiteur' and to be enchanted and...