House of Theodore Beza, Vézelay
Theodore Beza was born here in 1519. Photo
Nicholas Thompson.
Portrait of Theodore Beza (1519-1605).
A wider view of Beza's House. Photo
Nicholas Thompson.
Location map and aerial view of House of Theodore Beza. For a larger interactive view, see our Vézelay Map.
On June 24, 1519, Theodore Beza was born in Vézelay, France. Beza would later lead the Protestant Reformation in Geneva with John Calvin and become the chief spokesman for Calvinism.
History
Beza was born into a noble family in Vézelay. His father was the rich Pierre de Beze, bailiff of the county and a descendant of one of the proudest families of the duchy. His mother was Marie Bourdelot, renowned for her intelligence and her charities. Theodore was the couple's seventh child: they already had two sons and four daughters.
Beza did not stay in Vézelay for long: by the time his mother died when he was almost three years old, he had already been taken to Paris by his uncle Nicolas de Beze, a councillor in the Parliament of Paris. The uncle gave the precocious child the best teachers that money and influence could secure, and the rest is history.
What to See
The house where Beza spent the first two years of his life is located on the main street of Vezelay and is marked by a small plaque.
Quick Facts
Site Information |
| Names: | House of Theodore Beza |
| Location: | Vézelay, Burgundy, France |
| Category: | Historical Sites |
| Faith: | Christianity |
| Denomination: | Calvinist |
| Status: | privately owned |
| Date: | 1519 |
Visitor Information |
| Coordinates: | 47.464722° N, 3.744167° E (view on Google Maps) |
| Hours: | Interior not open to the public. |
Travel Resources
- Vézelay Map - our detailed interactive map of Vézelay, plus hand-picked links to more
- Vézelay Hotels - check availability, maps, photos and reviews, then book at the guaranteed lowest rate
- Vézelay Restaurant Reviews - the best places to eat in town
- Vézelay Travel Forum - tips, answers and advice on Vézelay tourism
Article Sources
Article written by Holly Hayes with reference to the following sources:
- Lieux de mémoire en Bourgogne - Musee Protestantisme
- Ch. 19: Theodore Beza - Philip Schaff, History of the Christian Church
- Theodore Beza - On Doctrine
Article last updated: 07/20/2009.
