Discover Vignol

This can help you decide whether to focus more on historic buildings or outdoor activities during your stay. The different themes offer concrete points of reference.

Windpump and washhouse: water technology in a protected historic ensemble

The Vignol windpump is a metal wind-powered pump dating from the early 20th century. It was built to supply water to the village and is fitted with a Bollée drive system. One technical feature is that the pump could start operating in even very light winds. Its function can therefore be understood both in terms of the purpose of the installation and the way it was powered.

The windpump is part of the protected historic ensemble “Eolienne et lavoir,” which was listed by decree on 28 March 1996. The washhouse was built before the nearby windpump. Both are supplied by a spring known as Fontaine de Chésamps in 1900 and now identified with the Grande Fontaine stream. This stream waters the valley. The ensemble thus brings together the technical supply of water and its use in the village.

Building phases and details of the parish church

The parish church of Saint-Nazaire and Saint-Celse features building phases from three periods: the 12th century, the fourth quarter of the 15th century and the second half of the 19th century. It also preserves an earlier Romanesque apse. The time span between these phases makes clear that the church was not built in a single period.

Its layout includes a nave with three bays, two side chapels and a polygonal apse. A bay is a section of the nave; “polygonal” describes the apse’s many-sided shape. An inscription bearing the date 1496 appears on a corbel stone in the left chapel. Thus, alongside the broader building phases, a specific architectural detail and a dated inscription provide further points of interest in the church.

The cemetery cross: shape and construction

The cemetery cross in Vignol dates from the transition between the 18th and 19th centuries. Its structure begins with a circular masonry foundation. Above it sits a monolithic plinth of the same basic shape. The square shaft consists of two parts and has chamfered edges. The cross itself is monolithic and decorated with shallow relief.

The description can therefore be read step by step: from the foundation to the plinth and shaft, and then the cross. “Monolithic” means that a component is made from a single piece; the shaft, by contrast, is expressly described as being made of two parts. Together with its date, this offers an architectural focus distinct from the parish church and water installation.

Hiking on the Tour de Vézelay

For a hike, the Vignol–Saizy–Mont Sabot section of the Tour de Vézelay is one specific option. It is listed as 5.1 km long; the distance may vary if the route changes. The section is signposted with blue markers for a local hike. However, the markers are poorly maintained, even though the route is easy to find. Check the latest route description and the condition of the markers before setting out.

The hiking route offers a different focus from the historic buildings: here, the stated distance is central, while the windpump, church and cross are defined by their form, function and date. If you choose Vignol for a stay, you can use these differences to help guide your own interests.

Discover more destinations: Fertrève, Moux, Luzy, Anlezy, Lormes, Arleuf, Saint-Révérien, Crux-La-Ville

For the broader travel overview: Nièvre.