Vezelay. Another stage completed.

Leaving Auxerre was a challenge.  The path was not showing up on my map app, nor was there an abundance of way marks. Eventually I found my way out of town, and heading for what I hoped was to be Arcy-sur-cure, but it was not to be.  

I was particularly tired and was dragging my feet.  The path was quite up and down, and having climbed one more hill, passing numerous vineyards, I realised that I would have to think of somewhere closer.  Irancy was the next village, and on the way to it I bailed up a couple who were out walking.  With pigeon French and English I got some help from them.  Unfortunately though they weren't, after about 30 mins of phone calls, successful - there was no room at the Inn!

I decided to go onto the next village, Cravant, where they had also attempted to find somewhere but without success.  A VERY steep climb followed, then a narrow rocky path along the contour line, and a steep descent into the village.   As I walked I was checking out potential places that I might have to resort to, bus shelters etc.  Fortunately there was a restaurant open, and the owner was eventually able to negotiate somewhere for me to stay.

Irancy - no room!
Leaving Cravant in sunshine.....
.... just before the mist descended.

Cravant is a very old village,  and I was disappointed that I was too tired to explore.  Leaving the village the next morning there was another steep climb, with an injury that felt like a bruised heel.  I took my time getting to Accolay, fortunately checking out the bus times and, foolishly, decided I had plenty of time to get to Arcy-sur-Cure, but hadn't realised how bad my foot was and had no pleasure in what was a beautiful path following the Cure River.

Cravant
The ancient hospital entrance - even a maternity ward.

Crossing the Cure I managed to get to Lucy-sur-Cure to catch the bus to Vezelay with 20mins to spare.  I was disappointed, but felt it was important to get there and rest.  The rest was four days in length.

I have enjoyed being in Vezelay.  The Basilca sits proudly on top of the hill and is one of the lightest and simplest of these types of buildings i have seen.   There are no stained glass windows in the building at all.  It has a small organ, which pumps out a big sound,  having heard it at Mass on Sunday morning.





I even attended a concert in the Basilica.

The main street (a hill) in Vezelay

The scout movement in France has two branches, one being the secular, traditional one like in Australia.  The other is a Catholic one and while in Vezelay I saw numerous groups of Scouts, and Guides.  The Cathedral in Vezelay hosts a special day for them, and I have seen videos of hundreds of Scouts marching in for a service.

Wooden sculptures in the Basilica.  A kneeling scout is on the far right, and a kneeling pilgrim is 3rd from the left.

There were many wooden crosses in the Basilica.  Most of these date from 1946 when 30,000 people converged on Vezelay from across the UK and Europe on a pilgrimage of peace (perhaps it needs to be done again!), carrying 14 wooden crosses  A group of German prisoners, interred in a nearby camp, asked to join and below is the cross they carried, the fifteenth cross.



Comments

  1. Jill1 August 2024 at 23:40

    Nice photos Janet

    ReplyDelete
  2. Leigh Newton2 August 2024 at 20:33

    The photos are all rather magical. I'm glad you have the option of hitching a life when in crisis.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Janet8 August 2024 at 23:24

    As you know Leigh it is all about flexibility. It means that I get to see things I wouldn't have otherwise.

    ReplyDelete

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