Through the lavender fields and rocky hills of Provence, the Chemin de Marie-Madeleine leads pilgrims to the sacred grotto of Sainte-Baume - the cave where, according to Provençal tradition, Mary Magdalene spent the last thirty years of her life in prayer and penance. This route of Magdalene devotion connects the sites associated with her legendary arrival in France and her final mountain hermitage.
📜 History & Significance
Provençal tradition holds that after the Ascension, Mary Magdalene, along with her siblings Martha and Lazarus and others, was cast adrift from the Holy Land in a boat without oars. Landing at Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer in the Camargue, they brought Christianity to Gaul. Mary Magdalene eventually withdrew to the cave of Sainte-Baume, where she lived as a hermit until angels carried her to receive final communion from St Maximin.
This tradition, whether historical memory or medieval legend, made Provence one of the great pilgrimage regions of medieval Europe. The grotto of Sainte-Baume drew kings and saints, while the relics at Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume continue to draw the faithful today.
🥾 Route Overview
The Chemin de Marie-Madeleine stretches approximately 300 km through Provence, connecting the coastal landing site at Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer to the mountain sanctuary at Sainte-Baume. The route typically requires 12-16 days of walking through the distinctive Provençal landscape.
From the Camargue marshlands, the path heads east through Arles and Aix-en-Provence before climbing into the forested Massif de la Sainte-Baume. The final ascent to the grotto, at 946 meters, offers commanding views over the Mediterranean coast where Mary Magdalene's boat first touched shore.
☩ Key Pilgrimage Sites
The Grotto of Sainte-Baume, carved into the northern cliff of the massif, has been a place of pilgrimage since at least the 5th century. Dominican friars have guarded the sanctuary since the 13th century. The cave contains a statue of the reclining Magdalene and offers Mass daily.
The Basilica of Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume, the largest Gothic church in Provence, houses relics believed to be Mary Magdalene's skull and the vial of her tears. The crypt preserves what is claimed as her original tomb.
📚 Further Reading
Curated resources to help you research and plan your pilgrimage on the Le chemin de Marie-Madeleine.
