"Les-Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer" Top 5 Page for this destination Parc Naturel Régional de Camargue Things to Do Tip by Lady_Mystique

Parc Naturel Régional de Camargue Things to Do: 21 reviews and 34 photos

Typical building in Les-Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer

by Lady_Mystique

Les-Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, the capital of the Camargue, is situated on the Mediterranean coast in the heart of Camargue's 'Park Naturel' with a small population of about 2300.

The Provençal Legend

Around the year 40 A.D. , a boat was launched from Jerusalem, without sail, oars or supplies, and drifted across the Mediterranen until it drifted ashore at this site. The refugees in the boat were Mary Jacobe, the mother of James and the sister of the Virgin; Mary Salome, the mother of the apostles James Major and John; Lazarus and his two sisters, Mary Magdalene and Martha; St. Maximus; Cedonius, who was born blind and cured, and sarah, the servant of the two Marys.

After landing safely, the group built a small oratory to the Virgin. The disciples wandered off their separate ways. Mary Magdalene went to St. Baume, and Martha went to Tarascon. Mary Salome , Mary Jacobe and Sarah remained in the Camargue, and were later buried in the oratory. The tomb of these three saints became a cult object, and has been the attraction of pilgrimages for the past 19 centuries. They were reburied beneath the chancel during the Barbarian invasions, and then removed and enshrined in 1448 by Good King Rene.

Directions: Where the Rhone delta (Camargue) meets the sea (Mediterranean).

Review Helpfulness: 4.5 out of 5 stars