Nicolas Sarkozy on visit in Yonne

Nicolas Sarkozy on visit in Yonne

French President Nicolas Sarkozy flanked by French Minister for the Interior, Overseas Departments and Territorial Administration Brice Hortefeux meets gendarmes during his visit to the Gendarmerie in Vezelay central France, on September 30, 2010. Photo by Jacques Witt/Pool/ABACAPRESS.COM

Illustration - Aerial View of France

Illustration - Aerial View of France

YONNE (89) VEZELAY : FACADE DE LA BASILIQUE SAINTE MARIE MADELEINE. CELEBRE POUR SA BASILIQUE (CHEF D'OEUVRE DE L'ART ROMAN) ET HAUT LIEU DE LA CHRETIENTE, LE SITE, PERCHE SUR UNE COLLINE, FUT UNE ETAPE ESSENTIELLE DES PELERINS EN ROUTE VERS SAINT-JACQUES-DE-COMPOSTELLE ET EST CLASSEE AU PATRIMOINE MONDIAL DE L'UNESCO DEPUIS 1979. SAINT FRANCOIS D'ASSISE Y FONDA LE PREMIER MONASTERE FRANCISCAIN DE FRANCE. Photo by Stephane Compoint/Only France/ABACAPRESS.COM

Illustration - Aerial View of France

Illustration - Aerial View of France

FRANCE. BURGUNDY. YONNE (89) AERIAL VIEW OF THE VILLAGE OF VEZELAY SEEN FROM THE SOUTH. IN THE BACKGROUND, THE ROMANESQUE BASILICA Photo by Stephane Compoint/Only France/ABACAPRESS.COM

Illustration - Aerial View of France

Illustration - Aerial View of France

FRANCE. BURGUNDY. YONNE (89) VEZELAY. AERIAL VIEW OF ETERNAL HILL AND VILLAGE. IN THE BACKGROUND, THE SAINTE MARIE MADELEINE BASILICA. FAMOUS FOR ITS BASILICA (MASTERPIECE OF ROMAN ART) AND HIGH PLACE OF CHRISTIANITY, THE SITE, PERCHED ON A HILL, WAS AN ESSENTIAL STOPOVER FOR PILGRIMS ON THE ROAD TO SAINT-JACQUES-DE-COMPOSTELLA AND IS LISTED AS UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SINCE 1979 Photo by Stephane Compoint/Only France/ABACAPRESS.COM

Illustration - Aerial View of France

Illustration - Aerial View of France

FRANCE. BURGUNDY. YONNE (89) VEZELAY. AERIAL VIEW OF THE ETERNAL HILL AND THE VILLAGE. IN THE BACKGROUND, THE BASILICA OF SAINTE MARIE MADELEINE. FAMOUS FOR ITS BASILICA (A MASTERPIECE OF ROMANESQUE ART) AND A MAJOR CENTRE OF CHRETITIAN LIFE, THE SITE, PERCHED ON A HILL, WAS AN ESSENTIAL STOPOVER FOR PILGRIMS ON THEIR WAY TO SAINT-JACQUES-DE-COMPOSTELLE AND HAS BEEN A UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE SINCE 1979. Photo by Stephane Compoint/Only France/ABACAPRESS.COM

Illustration - Aerial View of France

Illustration - Aerial View of France

FRANCE. BURGUNDY. YONNE (89) VEZELAY. AERIAL VIEW OF THE ETERNAL HILL AND THE VILLAGE. IN THE BACKGROUND, THE BASILICA OF SAINTE MARIE MADELEINE. FAMOUS FOR ITS BASILICA (A MASTERPIECE OF ROMANESQUE ART) AND A MAJOR CENTRE OF CHRETITIAN LIFE, THE SITE, PERCHED ON A HILL, WAS AN ESSENTIAL STOPOVER FOR PILGRIMS ON THEIR WAY TO SAINT-JACQUES-DE-COMPOSTELLE AND HAS BEEN A UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE SINCE 1979. Photo by Stephane Compoint/Only France/ABACAPRESS.COM

Illustration - Aerial View of France

Illustration - Aerial View of France

FRANCE. BURGUNDY. YONNE (89) VEZELAY: FACADE OF THE SAINTE MARIE MADELEINE BASILICA. FAMOUS FOR ITS BASILICA (A MASTERPIECE OF ROMANESQUE ART) AND A HIGH PLACE OF CHRISTIANITY, THE SITE, PERCHED ON A HILL, WAS AN ESSENTIAL STOPOVER FOR PILGRIMS ON THEIR WAY TO SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA AND IS LISTED AS A UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE SINCE 1979. SAINT FRANCIS OF ASSISI FOUNDED THE FIRST FRANCISCAN MONASTERY IN FRANCE HERE. THE ABBEY HAS BEEN KNOWN THROUGHOUT EUROPE SINCE THE 11TH CENTURY FOR HOUSING THE RELICS OF SAINT MADELEINE. Photo by Stephane Compoint/Only France/ABACAPRESS.COM

Illustration - Aerial View of France

Illustration - Aerial View of France

FRANCE. BURGUNDY. YONNE (89) VEZELAY: AERIAL VIEW OF THE ETERNAL HILL AND THE VILLAGE FROM THE WEST. IN THE BACKGROUND, THE BASILICA OF SAINTE MARIE MADELEINE. FAMOUS FOR ITS BASILICA (A MASTERPIECE OF ROMANESQUE ART) AND A HIGH PLACE OF CHRISTIANITY, THE SITE, PERCHED ON A HILL, WAS AN ESSENTIAL STOPOVER FOR PILGRIMS ON THEIR WAY TO SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA AND IS LISTED AS A UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE SINCE 1979. SAINT FRANCIS OF ASSISI FOUNDED THE FIRST FRANCISCAN MONASTERY IN FRANCE HERE. THE ABBEY HAS BEEN KNOWN THROUGHOUT EUROPE SINCE THE 11TH CENTURY FOR HOUSING THE RELICS OF SAINT MADELEINE. Photo by Stephane Compoint/Only France/ABACAPRESS.COM