Near the A6, the medieval village of Montreal and its 12th century collegiate
The history of the village is presented to us by Clément Goffinet, guide at the Grand Vézelay Tourist Office: "It is a village which was founded between the 9th and 10th centuries and which experienced strong prosperity until the end of the 13th century. It is on the borders of the Duchy of Burgundy and has been a source of covetousness. Due to its strategic position, it has hosted many fairs and markets which have contributed to its development”.
This old stronghold has beautiful remains, including two fortified gates out of the three that existed at the time. One of them, the Lower Gate, is described to us by Clément Goffinet: “It is a typical gate of 13th century military architecture. It is composed of three broken arches, closed only by leaves. It therefore has no drawbridge, but had a portcullis in the middle, to block the entrance”.
Also worth seeing are numerous wells, old cellars, and several remarkable houses, the oldest of which dates from the 13th century.
And as a nod, the guides generally conclude their visits with the evocation of Robert Charlebois' hit, "I'll come back to Montreal".
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