Friday 10 January 2014

VEZELAY - on the Pilgrim's Walk


All my own photographs.

Vézelay is a commune in the Yonne
 department in Burgundy in north-central France.
It is a defendable hill town famous for Vézelay Abbey.


 The town and the Basilica of St Magdelene
 are designated UNESCO World Heritage sites.



Imbedded into the road up to the Abbey
are these bronze Coquille St Jacques (scallops)
they signify that we are at
the beginning of the pilgrim's walk called
'The way of Saint James'
The walk ends in Santiago de Compostela in Spain
a distance of 678 miles!
Are you game to try it with me?!!

 
via

We visited Vezelay as part of my
granddaughter's school trip.
Travelling by bus from their village
was a fun two hour trip.
Listening to their excited non stop chatter
and the singing of french songs with hand actions too.
(much too complicated for me to join in)!


Many young Kiwi's from New Zealand
join the Europeans to make this walk
 during the summer months -
as part of their OE.


Permanent residents of Vezelay in the main are
artisans with their ateliers on the road
leading to the Abbey.
It was fascinating to watch them working at their craft.



I'm linking to

Grey Dey Thursdey
Dreaming of France  
Mosaic Monday

Our World Tuesday




Thank you dear friends
for visiting and for your kind comments.

Merci à bientôt
be kind to one another!


Shane

 







33 comments:

  1. These are beautiful photos Shane and a very interesting and informative post. It would be very interesting to visit there and do some of the walk. Thanks for sharing. I hope you have a wonderful weekend.

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  2. So interesting and beautifully illustrated. I'm sure you treasured being able to go along with your granddaughter's class on a trip like that. Thanks for such a good post!

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  3. What a beautiful place and a beautiful collage to share it! I have been on a lot of school bus trips with children and now I'm wondering if listening to French songs would be as nerve wreaking as 99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall is in English. And, hopefully, they didn't sing THAT one.

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  4. It looks like a town you would see in a movie -- and the church is one of the loveliest I've ever seen. Now that's a place I would like to visit myself.

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  5. That's a stunning basilica. I love how white and light it is.
    Friends have walked the Santiago de Compostela pilgrimage, and I would like to do part of it one day. Have you seen the movie The Way? It's about a man who does the pilgrimage after his son cannot.

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  6. Very interesting Shane, and not hard to imagine with your collage of photos.
    It would have been fun to be with the kids on the bus, noisy too no doubt!
    Judith

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  7. I wish I could join you on the pilgrimage. I admire all who can do it. Such a beautiful post that fills my heart with joy. Thank you for sharing.

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  8. So much beauty and history here! What I would do to see those sites!!! And how sweet that you were able to experience this with your granddaughter! Great memories to be had by all! Wishing you all the best in this new year friend! Nicole xoxo

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  9. Dearest Shane,
    What a fond memories you have for going together to Vézelay Abbey!
    Hugs,
    Mariette

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  10. Vezelay looks as though it's both interesting and beautiful, I'd love to have chance to wander round and explore.

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  11. Hello dear Shane. I will always remember going to see the movie The Way with my friend Ruth..her three daughters were off together to walk the Santiago de Compostela just a month later & that evening I sat beside a dear man who had done The Pilgrims way 10 years previously. I loved hearing his stories...what a joy! Beautiful photos..the magnificence of the Abbey! Love & hugs Catherine x0x0x

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  12. This was a very beautiful illustrated and informative post. Thanks for sharing this. have a blessed day. Madeline

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  13. You took some wonderful photographs for your gorgeous mosaic.

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  14. I have thought about doing that walk, wouldn't that be amazing..I know several women who have done the 500 miles, some did it over a few years and some all at one time..I had better keep going up these stairs! Your post is just beautiful!
    Xoxo

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  15. I so love visiting places such as that - and in France they are especially beautiful.

    Bet you had fun with all the children that day - and improved your French perhaps!!!!

    Love, Mary

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  16. Beautiful photos in your mosaic and inside the Abbey, I love the shells in the road at the start of that long walk:)

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  17. The architecture there is magnificent! Love your travel photos!

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  18. What a lovely post, a beautiful place to visit. The children are lucky to go on this school trip.. Your photos and mosaic are wonderful. Thanks for sharing, have a happy week!

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  19. Not sure I am up to walking that far,lol. But I am sure it would be beautiful to see. Take care and have a fantastic week. Jen

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  20. Hi Shane,

    I so enjoyed this most informative and beautifully illustrated post! I cannot get over the architecture of France and your posts, time and time again, confirm the stunning aesthetics of a country rich in history and art.

    Thanks so much for sharing!

    Have a lovely week!

    Poppy

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  21. Very interesting and such beautiful photos ! :)

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  22. How lovely to be able to go with your granddaughter on this trip. I love old architecture and look at those lovely flowers. Valerie

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  23. gorgeous images - I love the symmetry and light in the Abbey. The architecture in Europe is amazing. I have a friend who did this walk.
    Have a wonderful week. I am joining you through Mosaic Monday.

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  24. What a beautiful place and a wonderful collection of photographs. The Basilica is stunning, so much light and beauty. Thank you so much for sharing your trip - I've enjoyed visiting very much!

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  25. Your beautiful shots make a lovely mosaic.

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  26. So many of your photos look like picture post cards. Very beautiful scenes. It's such a rare treat to see things and places I will never get to visit. Sweet hugs!

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  27. I have a friend that walked on this pilgrimage road and if I were a bit younger I would love doing so too. It does sound amazing.

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  28. How beautiful the inside of the church is - so full of light. Is the stone really so bright?
    I think it would be wonderful to plan to walk even part of El Camino - you plan, I'll come!

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  29. Such a beautiful mosaic Shane. I know of the Pilgrim's Walk so it is great to see some of the buildings and churches around that. The statues and candles are so beautiful!
    Have a great week!
    Hugs,
    Suzy♥

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  30. Wow! I think that is so cool! Imagine the sights you could see on that journey. Blessings, Tammy

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  31. What a beautiful town. I've heard of that pilgrimage before, but not seen any pictures of the abbey- it's stunning.

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