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Voykit pocket guide · France
Vézelay
Go for one night, or a half-day from Avallon: the basilica and the hilltop view take 2–3 hours, and the village empties after 18:00.
Vézelay is a hill village of under 500 people in the Yonne, built around the Basilica of Sainte-Marie-Madeleine, a UNESCO site since 1979 and a historic starting point for the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela. There is no train station: you arrive by SNCF bus from Sermizelles or by car, then walk. The basilica is free and the village is small, so most travellers give it one night or a half-day between Avallon and Auxerre.
- Country
- France
- Best months
- May–Jun, Sep–early Oct
- Avoid
- Jul–Aug (crowds, heat), Nov–Mar (many places shut)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- EUR
- Money
- Currency is the euro (EUR, €). Contactless cards work in most shops, cafés and restaurants.
- Daily spend
- Budget €55–85 excl. bed (check) · Mid €85–140 excl. bed (check) · High €140+ excl. bed (check) (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Orange, SFR, Bouygues Télécom and Free sell prepaid SIMs in their shops and at tabacs; ID is required to register.
- Emergency
- European emergency number 112 · Ambulance (SAMU) 15 · Police 17 · Fire 18
- Plugs
- Types C, E · 230 V · 50 Hz · Round two-pin plugs; type E sockets have an earth pin sticking out, so Schuko (type F) plugs need a C/E hybrid or an adapter.
- Tipping
- Café or bar: Leave small change, €0.20–1.; Restaurant: Service is included; leave 5–10% in cash for good service.; Taxi: Round up to the next euro or two.; Hotel porter or housekeeping: €1–2 per bag or per night.; Tour guide: €5–10 per person for a half day, more for private guides.
- Water
- Tap water is safe everywhere unless signed otherwise. Restaurants must serve a free carafe of tap water on request.
- Toilets
- Paris has free automatic public toilets (sanisettes); elsewhere use cafés (buy a coffee), museums and stations, where some charge €0.50–1.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | €2–4 (check) |
| Lunch menu in a village restaurant | €16–28 (check) |
| Dinner, mid-range, per person | €25–45 (check) |
| Glass of Vézelay wine | €4–7 (check) |
| Museum entry | €3 (check) |
| Basilica entry | Free; open 08:00–20:00 (check)Free; open 8:00 AM–8:00 PM (check) |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | €10–25 (check) |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- CDG · Paris Charles de Gaulle
- TGV or TER to Auxerre or Avallon, then bus or taxi; allow most of a day door to door (check)
- ORY · Paris Orly
- Cross Paris to a mainline station first; slower than CDG for this region
Typical fares
- SNCF bus Sermizelles → Vézelay
- a few euro, about 20 min (check)
- Taxi Avallon → Vézelay
- €25–35 (check)
- Car park outside the walls
- free
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
On foot. The village is one steep street from the car park up to the basilica; allow time for the climb. A car or taxi is needed for Saint-Père, the Château de Bazoches and the Morvan.
See and do
Known for
- Basilica of Sainte-Marie-Madeleine (UNESCO, 1979)
- Pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela
- Hilltop view over the Cure valley
- Musée Zervos
- Vézelay wine and regional produce
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Avallon | Car or taxi, 17 km (11 mi) eastCar or taxi, 11 mi (17 km) east | About 25 min (check) |
| Château de Bazoches | Car, 10 km (6.2 mi) south on a wooded hillsideCar, 6.2 mi (10 km) south on a wooded hillside | About 20 min (check) |
| Saint-Père | Walk down the GR654-II trail, or drive 2 km (1.2 mi)Walk down the GR654-II trail, or drive 1.2 mi (2 km) | About 30 min on foot (check) |
| Auxerre | Car via the A6 | About 1 h (check) |
| Chablis | Car, about 40 km (25 mi) northeastCar, about 25 mi (40 km) northeast | About 50 min (check) |
| Morvan Regional Natural Park | Car; the park starts just south of the village | 30 min to the edge (check) |
Sleep
- Inside the walls (Rue Saint-Etienne, Place du Champ de Foire)
- Steps from the basilica and the restaurants; book early, few rooms.
- Saint-Père, 2 km below the hill
- Cheaper and quieter; you walk or drive up to the basilica.
- Avallon, 17 km east
- More beds, shops and a station; use it as a base and day-trip in.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello / Good day | Bonjourbon-zhoor |
| Thank you | Mercimair-see |
| Please | S'il vous plaîtseel voo pleh |
| How much is it? | C'est combien ?say kom-byen |
| Can I pay by card? | Je peux payer par carte ?zhuh puh pay-yay par kart |
| Where is the basilica? | Où est la basilique ?oo ay la bah-zee-leek |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Say 'bonjour madame/monsieur' on entering any shop, bus or office; avoid: Asking a question before saying bonjour — it is read as rude
- Cheek kisses (la bise): Follow the other person's lead; one to four kisses depending on region; avoid: Initiating la bise with strangers or in business
- Addressing people: Use 'vous' and titles until invited otherwise; avoid: First names and 'tu' with older people or staff
- Restaurants: Wait to be seated in restaurants; call the waiter 'monsieur' or 'madame'; avoid: 'Garçon', snapping fingers, asking for the bill before you are finished
- Conversation: Debate is a pleasure; food, politics and philosophy are fair game; avoid: Asking about salary or religion; loud voices on trains
- Dinner at a home: Bring flowers (not chrysanthemums), chocolates or a good bottle; arrive 10–15 minutes late; avoid: Cutting the tip off a cheese wedge or asking for ketchup
- Dress: Smart-casual in cities; covered shoulders in churches; avoid: Beachwear in town centres
Scams and watch-outs
- No train station: the nearest is Sermizelles, then an SNCF bus; check the timetable before you commit, as services are few.
- The climb from the car park to the basilica is steep and cobbled; wear shoes with grip.
- Many restaurants and shops close on one or two weekdays outside July and August; check locally.
- Village parking is limited in high season; use the free lot outside the walls.
Very safe. The real risks are the steep cobbles, thin pavements and few buses: check the last departure before you plan a late return.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Vézelay yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Basilica of Sainte-Marie-Madeleine (UNESCO, 1979)
- Pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela
- Hilltop view over the Cure valley
- Musée Zervos
- Vézelay wine and regional produce
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Vézelay tourist office: www.vezelaytourisme.com/
- Wikivoyage: Vézelay, revision 5268821 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5268821
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Vézelay
À cette adresse, s'il vous plaît
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
No embassy in the Yonne; the US, UK, Canadian, Australian, Irish and New Zealand embassies are in Paris.
Service is included by law in French restaurants; round up or leave 5–10% for good service.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/vezelay). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.