# Fontenay-près-Vézelay

> commune in Yonne, France

**Wikidata**: [Q1140702](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1140702)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fontenay-près-Vézelay)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/fontenay-pr-s-v-zelay

## Summary
Fontenay-près-Vézelay is a commune located in the Yonne department of France, within the canton of Vézelay and the arrondissement of Avallon. It is a small rural municipality with a population fluctuating around 130–140 residents, situated in the Burgundy region of central France.

## Key Facts
- **Type**: Commune (municipality) of France.
- **Location**: Yonne department, Burgundy-Franche-Comté region, France.
- **Coordinates**: 47.414444444444°N, 3.7555555555556°E.
- **Population**: Recorded between 132 and 142 residents across recent years.
- **Administrative Division**:
  - **Canton**: Vézelay.
  - **Arrondissement**: Avallon.
  - **Department**: Yonne (created March 4, 1790).
- **Aliases**: Also known simply as "Fontenay."
- **Wikidata Description**: "Commune in Yonne, France."
- **Wikipedia Title**: "Fontenay-près-Vézelay."
- **Sitelink Count**: 41 (across Wikimedia projects).

## FAQs

**Where is Fontenay-près-Vézelay located?**
Fontenay-près-Vézelay is located in the Yonne department of France, within the Burgundy-Franche-Comté region. It lies near the historic town of Vézelay, known for its basilica, and falls under the arrondissement of Avallon.

**What is the population of Fontenay-près-Vézelay?**
The population has varied slightly over recent years, with recorded figures including 142, 132, 137, 136, and 135 residents. It remains a small, rural commune typical of the French countryside.

**What administrative divisions is Fontenay-près-Vézelay part of?**
The commune is part of the canton of Vézelay and the arrondissement of Avallon, both within the Yonne department. Yonne itself was established on March 4, 1790, during the French Revolution.

**Is Fontenay-près-Vézelay the same as other places named "Fontenay"?**
While it may share the name "Fontenay" with other communes in France, Fontenay-près-Vézelay is distinct due to its proximity to Vézelay and its specific administrative placement in Yonne.

## Why It Matters
Fontenay-près-Vézelay represents the quintessential small French commune, embodying the rural character and administrative structure of France’s local governance. As part of the Yonne department, it contributes to the cultural and historical fabric of Burgundy, a region renowned for its medieval heritage, wine production, and religious sites like Vézelay’s basilica. While not a major urban center, such communes are vital to preserving France’s decentralized identity, agricultural traditions, and the balance between urban and rural life. Their existence also reflects the enduring legacy of the French Revolution’s administrative reforms, which established departments like Yonne to replace the old provincial system.

## Notable For
- **Rural Character**: A small commune with a population consistently under 150, exemplifying France’s rural municipalities.
- **Proximity to Vézelay**: Located near the historically significant town of Vézelay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- **Administrative Structure**: Part of the canton of Vézelay and the arrondissement of Avallon, illustrating France’s layered local governance.
- **Historical Context**: Situated in Yonne, a department created in 1790 during the French Revolution.
- **Geographic Coordinates**: Precisely mapped at 47.414444444444°N, 3.7555555555556°E.

## Body

### Geography and Location
Fontenay-près-Vézelay is situated in the Yonne department of the Burgundy-Franche-Comté region in central France. Its geographic coordinates are 47.414444444444°N latitude and 3.7555555555556°E longitude. The commune is located near Vézelay, a town renowned for its Basilica of Sainte-Marie-Madeleine, a key pilgrimage site and UNESCO World Heritage Site. The area is characterized by the rolling hills and valleys typical of the Burgundy landscape, known for its vineyards, forests, and historic villages.

### Administrative Structure
Fontenay-près-Vézelay is classified as a **commune**, the smallest administrative division in France, equivalent to a municipality. It falls under the following administrative hierarchies:
- **Canton**: Vézelay, a territorial subdivision grouping multiple communes for electoral and administrative purposes.
- **Arrondissement**: Avallon, a larger district overseeing several cantons within Yonne.
- **Department**: Yonne, created on **March 4, 1790**, during the French Revolution to replace the former province of Burgundy. Yonne is one of the original 83 departments established by the National Constituent Assembly.

### Demographics
The commune’s population has remained small and stable, with recorded figures over recent years as follows:
- 142 residents
- 132 residents
- 137 residents
- 136 residents
- 135 residents

This consistency reflects the demographic trends of rural France, where small communes often experience slow population growth or decline due to urban migration. The population data suggests a tightly knit community, typical of agricultural or semi-agricultural areas.

### Historical Context
The Yonne department, where Fontenay-près-Vézelay is located, was established in **1790** as part of the revolutionary reforms to modernize France’s administrative system. These reforms abolished the old provincial system and introduced departments as uniform territorial units. The commune system, also introduced during this period, granted local autonomy to villages and towns, a structure that persists today.

Vézelay, the nearby canton seat, has been a significant religious and cultural center since the Middle Ages. Its basilica, a starting point for the Santiago de Compostela pilgrimage, has drawn visitors for centuries. Fontenay-près-Vézelay’s proximity to Vézelay places it within this historic and cultural orbit, even if it remains a quiet, lesser-known locality.

### Related Administrative Entities
- **Canton of Vézelay**: A territorial division within Yonne, encompassing Fontenay-près-Vézelay and other nearby communes. Cantons serve as electoral districts for departmental elections.
- **Arrondissement of Avallon**: An intermediate administrative level between the department and the canton, responsible for overseeing local governance and public services.
- **Yonne Department**: One of France’s original 83 departments, named after the Yonne River. It is part of the Burgundy-Franche-Comté region and is known for its wine production (e.g., Chablis), historic sites, and natural landscapes.

### Cultural and Economic Significance
While Fontenay-près-Vézelay itself is not a major economic or cultural hub, its location in Yonne ties it to the broader Burgundian identity. The region is celebrated for:
- **Wine Production**: Yonne is home to the Chablis wine region, producing world-renowned white wines.
- **Historical Monuments**: Including the Basilica of Vézelay, the Abbey of Pontigny, and medieval towns like Auxerre.
- **Tourism**: The area attracts visitors interested in history, religion, wine tourism, and outdoor activities such as hiking and cycling.

As a small commune, Fontenay-près-Vézelay likely contributes to this ecosystem through local agriculture, small-scale hospitality, or as a residential area for those working in nearby towns.

### Infrastructure and Connectivity
Given its rural setting, Fontenay-près-Vézelay’s infrastructure would typically include:
- **Road Networks**: Connected to regional roads linking it to Vézelay, Avallon, and other local communes.
- **Public Services**: Basic municipal services such as a town hall (mairie), waste collection, and possibly a small school or community center.
- **Transport**: Likely reliant on private vehicles, with limited public transport options common in rural France.

### Notable Features
- **Proximity to Vézelay**: The commune’s name ("près-Vézelay" meaning "near Vézelay") highlights its geographic and cultural connection to the historic town.
- **Rural Lifestyle**: Represents the traditional French countryside, with potential agricultural activities such as farming or viticulture.
- **Administrative Legacy**: As part of Yonne, it is tied to the revolutionary-era reforms that shaped modern France’s governance.

### Comparison to Other Communes
Fontenay-près-Vézelay is one of thousands of small communes in France, each with its own local identity. Unlike larger municipalities, it lacks urban infrastructure but plays a role in maintaining the rural-urban balance that defines France’s territorial organization. Its distinction lies in its specific location near Vézelay and its place within the Burgundy-Franche-Comté region’s historical and cultural landscape.

## References

1. BnF authorities
2. dataset of postal codes in France. 2018
3. INSEE code
4. répertoire géographique des communes
5. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
6. Annuaire de service-public.fr
7. Recensement de la population 2015. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 2017
8. Populations légales 2016
9. Populations légales 2017
10. Populations légales 2018
11. Populations légales 2019
12. Populations légales 2020
13. Populations légales 2021
14. Populations de référence 2022
15. Populations de référence 2023
16. [Code officiel géographique](https://www.insee.fr/fr/information/3363419)
17. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies
18. GeoNames
19. [répertoire géographique des communes. 2015](https://wxs-telechargement.ign.fr/83edtfdyqte031y0ra49d2e3/telechargement/inspire/RGC-2015-01$RGC2015/file/RGC2015.7z)
20. [2016](https://data.geopf.fr/telechargement/download/GEOFLA/GEOFLA_2-2_COMMUNE_SHP_LAMB93_FXX_2016-06-28/GEOFLA_2-2_COMMUNE_SHP_LAMB93_FXX_2016-06-28.7z)
21. [Code officiel géographique. 2020](https://www.data.gouv.fr/fr/datasets/r/8442dfae-a878-49c6-be4c-20689b1c337c)
22. [Code officiel géographique. 2017](https://www.insee.fr/fr/information/2560698)