Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer The Church of the Saintes-Maries

According to the tradition of Provence, a boat without sail or oars brought Mary Magdalene, Martha, Lazarus, Mary Jacobe, Mary Salome and their companions from Palestine to this shore of the Camargue. Mary Jacobe and Mary Salome stayed here, and the church built over their tomb in the twelfth century was fortified against raids from the sea.

Their relics are kept in a chapel high in the church and lowered to the faithful three times a year, in May, October and December. The Roma who come each May honor Saint Sarah, whose statue stands in the crypt and is carried into the sea in procession.

Further reading: Avignon: A Pilgrim’s Guide to the City of the Popes; Mary Magdalene in Provence: The Tradition and the Shrines.

• The churchIts fortified walls, and the well inside the nave.
• The cryptThe statue of Saint Sarah.
• The roofA walk above the Camargue and the sea.

• July 22Feast of Saint Mary Magdalene
• July 29, with Saints Mary and LazarusFeast of Saint Martha
• May 24 and 25The pilgrimage of the Roma, and the processions to the sea
• OctoberThe fall pilgrimage, on a weekend near October 22
• Early DecemberThe winter pilgrimage

• Saint Mary MagdaleneDisciple of Christ and first witness of the Resurrection
• Saint MarthaDisciple of Jesus, sister of Mary and Lazarus of Bethany

• Via MagdalenaeThe Magdalene Way, seven daysDay I, Paris to Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer

About an hour by road from Avignon, or forty minutes from Arles.

• ArlesSaint-Trophime, about 19 miles as the crow flies
• AvignonThe Palace of the Popes and Notre-Dame-des-Doms, about 39 miles as the crow flies
• SénanqueThe Abbey of Notre-Dame de Sénanque, about 50 miles as the crow flies
• La Sainte-BaumeThe Grotto of Saint Mary Magdalene, about 67 miles as the crow flies