4. Vézelay to Cravant

The central tympanum of the basilica is a major work of Romanesque art, everything is symbolic of the folds of the tunic of Christ in the gestures of the disciples and apostles.
 A guided tour is essential to understand the messages addressed to the pilgrims before entering the church.
Admire the southern tympanum: the childhood of Jesus, the beginning of Jesus' earthly life and the northern tympanum: the ascension of Christ, the end of Jesus' earthly life.

The Basilica of Sainte-Marie-Madeleine is a masterpiece of Romanesque art that almost disappeared. Prosper Mérimée, Inspector General of Historic Monuments, will obtain the necessary funds for the restoration of the basilica, which will be entrusted to Viollet-le-Duc.
The finely sculpted capitals number about a hundred on two levels and represent mythical scenes, as well as iconographic evidence of life in the Middle Ages.
They are said to be of exceptional beauty, one of the most famous is "mystical mill". One can also admire "Saint Martin and the tree of the pagans" or "Daniel saved from the lions, or "Jacob's blessing".
To discover the messages of the sculptures of the Middle Ages you must stop at the Visitor's House and take part in a guided tour.
La maison des visiteurs à Vézelay
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Situated on the northern flank of the Vézelay Hill, the Holy Cross Chapel, now known as "La Cordelle", was built in the year following the preaching of the Second Crusade in 1146 by Saint Bernard. Since that time, it has always remained a place of Franciscan presence near this high place of pilgrimage.
A priory under the name of St. Fiacre was built next to it for the Benedictines. The Franciscans from Italy replaced them in the 13th century and remained there until the Revolution.
Today three friars live in this hermitage, they pray and welcome in Franciscan simplicity and joy all their pilgrims, especially those who are on their way to Assisi. La Cordelle is not a place for vacationing, it is a place that one seeks because one is attracted by a spiritual thirst, a need to contemplate the Beautiful, while keeping the Silence of the heart.
Source of information Wikipedia

Before arriving in Saint-Moré-sur-Cure, you will go around the archaeological site of Cora which you can visit.
The ancient camp of Cora, of its full name Cora-Villaucerre camp, is a prehistoric site of the Neolithic, Bronze Age, Hallstatt and then a Roman camp. "Cora" is the Latin name of the river La Cure which flows through the valley.
The camp is built in the shape of an oval, 600 metres long and 400 metres wide, giving an area of between 20 and 25 hectares.
In Roman times the Neolithic site became a fortified camp on the Via Agrippa.
In summer the vegetation takes possession of the wall and its surroundings, so that not much can be seen. Also the visit is to be made in winter. The path is lined with explanations.

In the Vita Columbani, Jonas de Bobbio, quotes the name of the city of Cora (Saint-Moré). The monks under guard arrive in Cora and meet five men suffering from frenzy, who were healed immediately.
Translated into French by, Life of Saint Columban and his disciples.
Today St. Moré and a peaceful village on the banks of the river La Cure.

On the Via Columbani, the sarcophagus quarry of the "Roche taillée" is located at the top of the coral cliff overlooking the river, about a kilometre, as the crow flies, from the famous cave of Arcy sur Cure.
The cut face extends over 85 m and rises up to 25 m. Here you can see the cuttings made to drive in wedges of dry wood that were wetted so that the swelling would cause the rock to break. The negative imprints left by the removal of the sarcophagi are also visible. The quarrymen, before proceeding with the extractions, levelled the wall : the blows of the picks left traces arranged in "fish bones", clearly visible in certain places. Holes were dug in the rock for scaffolding.
Underground mining was also carried out, as evidenced by several chamber entrances hidden by scree.
Once extracted, the sarcophagi were dug on site and then lowered to the river, where they were transported on barges or driven by oxcarts to via Agrippa, 300 m further on, to be taken to their destination. The face has receded by several dozen metres over the centuries.
This text is a synthesis of Pierre Poulain's work: "La carrière de sarcophages d'Arcy sur Cure".

Private property located on Via Columbani.
This residence is sitting on a network of flooded underground caves, at the intersection of two roads that are Via Agrippa de l'Océan. This mansion was a place of alchemical research during the Middle Ages, as shown by the many symbols carved or painted in this mansion.
The manor house's large facade, decorated with a turret, as well as its tower, are Renaissance. Most of it dates from the 14th century and replaces an older residence called the Château du Lys, built in the 11th century. One reaches the Saint-Jean tower through the "Porte des Sages" (Gate of the Wise Men) to enter the interior of the castle whose porch is sculpted with numerous allegorical figures.
The left wing dates from the 18th century and was redesigned around 1850 by a pupil of Viollet-le-Duc. A neo-Renaissance style pavilion was built next to the manor house in 1875.

From Cravant, thousands of steres were led by the Cure to its confluence with the Yonne. During the 19th century, voices were raised to make this river navigable. With the decline in the consumption of driftwood, the port of Vermenton needed a commercial outlet in the Yonne. In a report of 1873, one can read: "This canal will be very useful for the transport of wood and will even be indispensable as soon as continuous navigability has been restored to the Yonne upstream from Auxerre to Clamecy". Recognised as being of public utility by decree of 17 January 1876, work began in 1878 and was completed in 1883 (Yonne Departmental Archives,3 S 176; Dictionary of Rivers and Canals of France.