Shabby chic in Vézelay

Our gite is an ancient stone house at the heart of the mediaeval town of Vézelay, a centre of pilgrimage since the twelfth century and now a UNESCO World Heritage site.

(To see more about Vézelay and its surroundings click the links in the text below.)

It is surrounded by superb walking country as well as being ideally placed for touring Burgundy's 'green heart', the Morvan National Park.

Vézelay is just two hours from Paris by car or train, and is easily accessible from the UK - map - or see our note on getting there here.

The house dates back to the twelfth century and was reworked in the fifteenth and eighteenth centuries. Much of the earlier structure remains, including two large twelfth century cellars.

The accommodation consists of a large ground floor kitchen / dining area (around 25 x 40 feet) with a large open fireplace:

Above this is a self contained open plan flat, with working fireplace and sleeping three (again around 25 x 40 feet with a long galley kitchen).

Above this there are then three double bedrooms, a common room, bathroom, shower and WC.

An adjacent large vaulted room, sleeping three, has above it two further bedrooms, one double, one single.

There is a small courtyard to the rear, and a terrace in front of the house, overlooking the Place Borot (and what remains the Eglise St Pierre), with room to sit outside and views to the hillsides.

The house will sleep up to 13 people, while still offering a certain amount of privacy. Therefore it adapts well to extended families, smaller groups, couples or individuals. There is central heating, hot water, dishwasher, washing machine and drier, and all the other usual facilities. Everything works, but we have a no-frills approach which keeps prices low.

The twelfth century Basilica of St Mary Magdalen and the splendid ramparts are less than five minutes walk from the front door. Vézelay is one of the starting points for pilgrimage to Compostella.

While preserving its mediaeval character, the village has six good restaurants, a grocery shop, various other shops selling good quality books, clothes, local produce and souvenirs. Nearby are facilities for canoeing, riding and swimming. It is an excellent centre for hiking, and cycle hire is available in a nearby village.

The ramparts are a few minutes' walk away (see more local pictures here):

We would only expect to let to one group at a time. Prices vary according to season and size of group, from £400 to £1200 per week. For example, an individual or couple could expect to pay £400-£500 for a week, while a group of 10, say, might expect to pay £900 - £1,200 for a week.

Some comments from visitors: 'A perfect writer's retreat' - 'A very comfortable week for fourteen!' - 'We had a wonderful week.  The house was delightful and huge!  It was fantastically equipped and we enjoyed browsing your books'

Tempted? Please contact us for information, availability and prices: jessica0407@talktalk.net