Vignol combines a technical curiosity with several clearly datable examples of architecture. The Eolienne de Vignol, a windpump with a Bollée drive, is part of the protected monument ensemble along with the washhouse; the parish church and the cemetery cross add to this historic focus. Two distinct interests are therefore central to your trip: architectural history and water technology on the one hand, and a section of the Tour de Vézelay on the other. The specific dates and architectural features help distinguish these themes and choose the focus of your stay.

Windpump and washhouse: water technology in Vignol

The Eolienne de Vignol is a metal windpump from the early 20th century. It was built to supply water to the village and has a Bollée drive system. The installation could start operating even in very light winds.

Together with the washhouse, the Eolienne is part of the “Eolienne et lavoir” monument ensemble, which was listed by decree on 28 March 1996. The washhouse is older than the nearby windpump. A spring supplies both structures; it was called Fontaine de Chésamps in 1900 and is now identified with the Grande Fontaine stream, which waters the valley. This sequence distinguishes the construction period of the washhouse from the later windpump and the ensemble’s protection in 1996.

Construction phases and floor plan of the parish church

The Église paroissiale Saint-Nazaire Saint-Celse has construction phases dating from the 12th century, the fourth quarter of the 15th century and the second half of the 19th century. An earlier Romanesque apse has been preserved. An inscription bearing the year 1496 is on a corbel stone in the left chapel. The apse is a preserved older architectural feature; the inscription, by contrast, marks a specific date on a single stone.

The nave comprises three bays, alongside two side chapels and a polygonal apse. A bay is a section of the nave’s structural layout; polygonal means having several sides. The nave is the longitudinal space of the church, and the two side chapels extend it laterally.

The cemetery cross and its form

The cemetery cross dates from the transition between the 18th and 19th centuries. Its components differ in material and form: the foundation is masonry and circular, while the base is monolithic and also circular. Above it is a square shaft made of two parts with chamfered edges, topped by a monolithic cross with bas-relief decoration. Here, monolithic means that the base and cross are each made from a single stone; chamfered edges are bevelled transitions at the corners of the shaft.

Tour de Vézelay: distance and trail markings

The Vignol–Saizy–Mont Sabot section of the Tour de Vézelay is listed as 5.1 km; the distance may change if the route is revised. It is marked with blue waymarkers for a local hike. The markings are not well maintained, although the route is easy to find. Check the trail markings before setting out if you plan to hike this section. Distance and waymarking answer different planning questions: 5.1 km describes the length of the section, while the markings relate to navigation along the way.

Discover more destinations: Saint-Honoré-Les-Bains, Bitry, Lormes, Pouilly-Sur-Loire, Clamecy, Bouhy, Bazolles, Brassy

For the overview of the wider area: Nièvre.