The hill of Vézelay and its St. Magdalene basilica, masterpiece of Romanesque art and architecture, belong to the UNESCO World Heritage List.

A Christian shrine since the Middle Ages, Vézelay owes its prosperity to the cult of relics of Mary Magdalene. The city, several thousand inhabitants strong at this time, became a point of departure for the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. In 1146, St. Bernard preached the second crusade from here. Philip Augustus and Richard Lion Heart met in Vézelay before embarking on the third crusade in 1190. The first Franciscan convent in France was established here in 1217.

From the 13th century, the city suffered a period of decline, until its rediscovery by Prosper Mérimée and Eugène Viollet-le-Duc in the 19th century. The latter restored St. Magdalene basilica, which is now one of the finest Romanesque buildings in the world with its proportions, its tympanum and carved capitals. Every summer solstice, the sun traces a “path of light” in the center of the nave.

Today, the village has kept its authentic charm with its medieval walls, gates and promenade. Ancient houses from the 15th to 17th century line the main street, which leads to the Basilica and the ancient castle terrace, from where the visitor discovers an unforgettable viewpoint of the surrounding countryside.

The « Eternal Hill » has inspired many artists: Georges Bataille, Romain Rolland, Jules Roy, Mstislav Rostropovich, and Serge Gainsbourg among others.

Our shop is located on the village’s main street. It takes about 2h30 to reach Vézelay from Paris or Lyon with the A6 highway.

At rue Saint-Etienne No. 46, the “Heritage Bourgogne” shop offers a renewed selection of red and white wines from the best growers and terroirs of Burgundy. Local gourmet foods like cheeses, terrines, liquors, gingerbreads, mustards and jams are also offered, as well as professional glassware (Schott Zwiesel, Chef & Sommelier).

The shop is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., 7 days a week from March to October and during weekends the rest of the year.