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Holy Pilgrimage Town, Vézelay Church and Hill

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A small hill lies in the Burgundy region of central France.

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The medieval town of Vézelay extends beside the road and stretches across the hill.

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The St. Madeleine Church stands at the top. It's the centre of pilgrimage for Christians.

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It was built in the 10th century and is believed to hold the relics of Mary Magdalene.

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It became known as a revered place of the Holy Spirit.

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The interior is decorated with a large sculpture illustrating scenes from the Pentecost,

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with a figure of Jesus giving revelations to his apostles in the middle.

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According to the Bible, St. Mary Magdalene witnessed the death and resurrection of Jesus.

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Her relics were highly prized in medieval times.

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St. Madeleine Church drew many devout Christians from all over Europe to pay homage.

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People in the medieval period expressed their religious faith by going on pilgrimage.

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During the Crusades, knights saw St. Mary Magdalene as an inspiration for their campaign.

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She was said to have been expelled from Jerusalem.

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St. Madeleine Church became a point of departure for Crusaders,

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but also pilgrims starting their trek to the Vatican and to holy sites in Spain.

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Scalloped shells lie on the path in front of the church.

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The shell was an emblem of St. James and became a symbol of pilgrimage.

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Many houses used to accommodate pilgrims still remain.

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A great number of pilgrims flocked to the town in the Middle Ages,

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and there was not enough space for everyone.

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People spread straw on the floor of spaces like this one, which sheltered around 50 to 100 people.

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This basement remains in its original shape, but is now used as a wine cellar.

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For modern-day pilgrims, the holy journey still starts from here, the town of Vesley in France.