France - Yonne

Vézelay
Mon 19 May 2014     Cumulative distance 679km
We have been on the road for almost two weeks and it was appropriate to "take stock" of how we were going. When planning the tour our benchmarks (average daily distances, average speeds etc) were all derived from Marianne & David's earlier tours and we were aware that some things would change when travelling as four, rather than two but we just weren't sure what.

After discussing our progress during these first days we recognised that everything takes a little longer as the group size increases and our average speed over the day when all breaks etc are included was lower than projected in our early plans. This was putting pressure on all parties and reducing the time available to enjoy sightseeing or just relaxing at the end of a hard day. Consequently we decided to reduce our daily distances from around 65km to 55km, to see how that changed the situation.

The route from Semur-en-Auxois to Vézelay was around 56km and we started early in brilliant sunshine with a cooling breeze. It is hard to imagine a better day for a ride and the countryside that we traversed was awesome, with lush green fields as far as the eye could see, herds of grazing cows, beautiful villages and farm houses, while travelling along good roads with very little traffic. There were a few hills but as always we were rewarded with great downhill runs.

We stopped in Epoisses to view its impressively restored and maintained castle which dates back to around the year 900, before pushing on towards Vézelay. Our progress was very good and, after a light lunch in a church yard, we cycled the final 20km and completed our day's efforts with a hard climb up to the old town, arriving at around 2.30pm. We soon found a comfortable hotel and after a rest, shower and change of clothes we went off to investigate the town.

Vézelay, in the Yonne department, is a hill town famous for its 11th century Romanesque Basilica of St Magdelene, and is now designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Vézelay's hilltop location has made it an obvious site for a town since ancient times. In the 9th century the Benedictines were given land to build a monastery. Vézelay Abbey was and remains a major starting point for pilgrims on the Way of St. James to Santiago de Compostela, one of the most important of all medieval pilgrimage centres. In 1189, the Frankish and English factions of the Third Crusade met at Vézelay before officially departing for the Holy Land. (Wikipedia)

Semur-en-Auxois
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Castle of Epoisses

 

 

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Heading to Vézelay

 

 

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Vézelay
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