Way of Vézelay – Via Lemovicensis

On the sacred hill of Vézelay, where Bernard of Clairvaux preached the Second Crusade and Mary Magdalene's relics drew medieval crowds, begins one of the great pilgrimage routes to Santiago. The Via Lemovicensis winds through the heart of France, passing shrines and abbeys that made this land a cradle of medieval Christianity.

📜 History & Significance

Vézelay's Basilica of Sainte-Marie-Madeleine claimed to possess the relics of Mary Magdalene, making it one of the most visited pilgrimage sites in medieval France. From this hilltop sanctuary, thousands of pilgrims set out each year for Santiago, following a route that passed through Limoges (hence the Latin name Lemovicensis) and the abbeys of Aquitaine.

The route witnessed the preaching of crusades, the passage of kings, and the devotions of countless ordinary pilgrims. St Bernard's fiery sermon launching the Second Crusade in 1146 was delivered from Vézelay's slopes to a crowd so vast they gathered in the fields below.

🥾 Route Overview

The Via Lemovicensis stretches approximately 900 km from Vézelay to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, typically completed in 35-38 days of walking. The route follows the GR 654 through the Morvan hills and the Limousin plateau before descending to the Pyrenees.

From Vézelay, the path passes through Bourges and its magnificent Gothic cathedral, then continues to Limoges and Périgueux. The route crosses into the Basque Country before joining other ways at Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port for the climb over the Pyrenees.

☩ Key Pilgrimage Sites

The Basilica of Sainte-Marie-Madeleine at Vézelay, a masterpiece of Romanesque sculpture, sets pilgrims on their way with its magnificent tympanum depicting Christ in glory. The route passes through Nevers, where St Bernadette of Lourdes rests incorrupt.

In Limoges, the Cathedral of Saint-Étienne and the shrine of Saint Martial mark the route's halfway point. The abbey churches and medieval hospitals along the way testify to centuries of pilgrimage tradition.