Around the year 860 Vézelay was founded by Benedictine monks.
History and legend intermingle-that a monk called Badillon
was sent in haste to Saint-Maximin, his mission being, to
bring back the relics of Mary-Magdalene which were venerated
there. It was here in 1166 that King Henry II of England was
excommunicated and in 1190 Philippe-Auguste of France and
Richard the Lionhearted of England began the 3rd crusade.
In the 16th century it was a Huguenot strong hold.

from a Vézelay guide book