The Basilique Ste-Madeleine (Basilica Church of St. Mary Magdalene) in Vézelay is the largest Romanesque church in France. In this basilica are the relics of St. Mary Magdalene. Set upon a hill over looking the French country side of Burgundy, Basilique Ste-Madeleine is one of the most beautiful and serene sacred places we’ve been to. Inside, the giant basilica, the crypt of Mary Magdalene sits directly beneath the altar. The warmth and soothing buzzing energy of this space was undoubtedly filled with love as it was easily felt. When you enter the crypt it felt like a sanctuary and immediately you felt the peace of this sacred space.
The surrounding country side of Vézelay is absolutely magnificent, you walk up wonderful hilltop, through a street lined with ancient buildings that were built around the 12th century. When you arrive at the top, the basilica stands majestically over looking the beautiful French countryside below.
The basilica at Vézelay was built on the hill in such a way that the building is oriented such at on the Summer Solstice, June 21st, at noon on the longest day of the year, the sun’s rays enter the south side windows and cast the sun’s rays to shine exactly in the middle of the center aisle of the nave. We coincidentally arrived on June 22nd, but you could still see the effect, just off set. To the right is a picture of me in the nave around noon.
Sacred Sites are often built in such a way that structures built on them are oriented with celestial bodies, such as the sun, moon and stars.
Copyright (c) 2011 Lisa K.