Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Saint-Père

Seen on the right is the bell tower of Notre-Dame. The 50m high tower is considered a masterpiece of the flamboyant Gothic style. In 858 the Count of Vienne and his wife Berthe founded a monastery here, but already in 873, it was looted and completely devastated by the Normans. The monks (and nuns) rebuilt the convent on the hill above Saint-Père on a place, that later developed into a main pilgrim place of the medieval times: Vezelay. The tower can be seen on the hill. The Via Lemovicensis (aka "Voie de Vézelay") began up there. I had started my hike in Trier (Trèves) in 2005 it took me about 5 weeks to reach Vezelay. From here the "chemin" was much easier to find. I have uploaded already many photos taken in and around Vezelay, so I will add only two this time.

Standing on the hill behind the Basilica looking southeast. The little village Saint-Père, known for the church with that high white steeple. The moon is out already. A warm summer evening. Acclaimed Marc Meneau runs a famous hotel and gourmet restaurant (*** Michelin) in Saint-Père since many years. Serge Gainsbourg liked the place and stayed in that hotel 1990 for weeks. I saw polaroids in the nearby bar-tabac, showing Serge smoking cigarettes and drinking pastis in that bar with the locals. Serge died in March 1991 of a heart attack.

I had found this place, in the back of the Basilica, already some years ago. There is even a bench. The village seen here is Saint-Père, known for the church with that high white steeple. "Sittin' on the dock of the bay, watchin' the tide roll away" like Otis Redding on a summer evening. "Looks like nothing's gonna change everything still remains the same" Acclaimed Marc Meneau runs a gourmet restaurant (*** Michelin) in Saint-Père. Serge Gainsbourg liked the place and stayed in Meneau´s hotel 1990 for weeks. I saw polaroids in the nearby bar-tabac, showing Serge smoking cigarettes and drinking pastis with the locals. Serge died in March 1991 of a heart attack.