Basilica at Vézelay

Vézelay's marvelous Basilica of Sainte-Marie-Madeleine is perhaps the foremost example of Romanesque architecture in Burgundy.  It is a long church looming over a hilltop town, widely visible from the countryside around.  The interior is subtly crafted, as you see here, in tones from light gray to nearly black. 

Concluding a long visit, we experienced Saturday midday mass, with just 3-4 dozen other persons,  led by perhaps 20 members of the monastic community of the church, soberly dressed in white robes. Wonderful chants and a piercing solo flute provided accompaniment. A striking proportion of the hour-long service was devoted to preparing and offering communion. Altogether a mass like no other we have experienced.

The continuing heat wave was interrupted by a brief afternoon downpour, which reduced the temperature a bit but brought humidity (though it didn't seem to last long). Even as I write this at 10 pm it is probably still in the low 80˚s (nearly 30˚ C). We have had nearly a week of temperatures near 100˚F (close to 40˚).

FYI, the image is merged from two horizontal images in Photoshop.