The Catholic Pilgrim's Guide to Cotignac, France

Cotignac is the world's only village where all three members of the Holy Family appeared, making it a premier Catholic pilgrimage destination in Provence.

Nestled amid the lavender-scented hills of Provence, this sun-drenched village holds an extraordinary distinction in Catholic history: it is the only place on Earth where both the Virgin Mary and Saint Joseph have appeared. The dramatic tufa cliffs that frame Cotignac have witnessed over five centuries of pilgrimage, drawing families, fathers, mothers, and couples from across France and beyond to seek the intercession of the Holy Family. The story begins on August 10, 1519, when a humble woodcutter named Jean de la Baume knelt to pray before starting his day's work on the slopes of Mont Verdaille. There, bathed in light, the Virgin Mary appeared to him holding the Infant Jesus, flanked by Saint Michael the Archangel and Saint Bernard of Clairvaux. She spoke words that would shape this corner of Provence for centuries: "I am the Virgin Mary. Go tell the clergy and consuls of Cotignac to build me a church here, under the name of Notre-Dame de Grâces, and let them come in procession so that I may pour out my graces." Jean hesitated, uncertain. The next day, Mary appeared again—and this time he ran to the village to deliver her message. By September 14, the first stone was laid. But Cotignac's most dramatic chapter unfolded more than a century later. In 1637, after twenty years of childless marriage, King Louis XIII and Queen Anne of Austria had produced no heir, and the French throne stood without succession. On November 3, an Augustinian friar named Brother Fiacre, praying at Notre-Dame des Victoires in Paris, received a vision: the Queen must make three novenas—one at Notre-Dame de Paris, one at Notre-Dame des Victoires, and the third at Notre-Dame de Grâces in distant Provence. Brother Fiacre completed the novenas on December 5, 1637. Exactly nine months later, on September 5, 1638, the future Louis XIV—"Louis-Dieudonné," Louis the God-given—was born. In February 1660, the young Sun King himself climbed the grand staircase at Notre-Dame de Grâces on horseback, accompanied by his mother, to thank the Virgin for the miracle of his birth. Just four months later, as Louis XIV traveled south to meet his Spanish bride, Saint Joseph appeared on the nearby Mont Bessillon. A 22-year-old shepherd named Gaspard Ricard, parched and dying of thirst in the scorching June heat, suddenly saw an elderly man beside him. "I am Joseph," the figure said. "Lift this rock and you will drink." The boulder seemed impossibly heavy, yet Gaspard moved it effortlessly—and a spring of fresh water gushed forth. That spring flows to this day.

📜 History & Spiritual Significance

The sanctuary's early years saw rapid growth. Pope Leo X granted indulgences to pilgrims in 1521, and in 1522, the consuls of Aix-en-Provence sent a delegation to pray for deliverance from plague. The original chapel was replaced by a larger Gothic church in 1537, and in 1586, the Oratorian fathers arrived to serve the growing stream of pilgrims. The royal connection transformed Cotignac from a regional shrine into a site of national significance. When Louis XIV visited in 1660, he deposited copies of the Treaty of the Pyrenees and his marriage contract as thanksgiving offerings. In 1667, a year after Anne of Austria's death, he installed a black marble plaque in the sanctuary honoring his mother: "He was given to his people by the vows Anne of Austria made in this church." The plaque remains clearly visible today. Louis XIV's gratitude extended further. In March 1661, he decreed that the Feast of Saint Joseph on March 19 would be a public holiday throughout France—a direct response to the apparition at Cotignac. The simple chapel erected over Gaspard's spring was replaced by a larger church, consecrated in 1663. The sanctuaries weathered the Revolution's fury differently. Notre-Dame de Grâces was seized as national property, pillaged, and razed. Three young women of Cotignac—Rose, Euphrasine, and Thérèse Gérard—heroically rescued the statue and painting of the Virgin from destruction. The faithful rebuilt their church in 1810-1811, and in 1938, the statue of Notre-Dame de Grâces received canonical coronation. The Oblates of Mary Immaculate cared for the shrine until 1974. In 1977, Benedictine nuns who had fled Algeria settled at the Saint Joseph sanctuary, and in 1981, Bishop Barthe of Fréjus-Toulon invited the newly-founded Community of Saint John to take responsibility for Notre-Dame de Grâces—their very first priory. Today, approximately 150,000 pilgrims visit annually, making Cotignac the most-visited site in the Var department. The sanctuaries have been designated a Jubilee pilgrimage site for 2025.

☩ Pilgrimage Sites in Cotignac

The sanctuaries of Cotignac sit upon two hills separated by a 3.5-kilometer pilgrim path through fragrant Mediterranean woodland. Six oratories depicting scenes from Saint Joseph's life mark the way, making the walk itself a meditation.

1. Sanctuary of Our Lady of Graces (Sanctuaire Notre-Dame de Grâces)

Local Name (French): Sanctuaire Notre-Dame de Grâces Dedication: Our Lady of Graces (Notre-Dame de Grâces) Website: nd-de-graces.com Description / Highlights: The honey-colored sanctuary crowns Mont Verdaille, its bell tower rising above the olive groves like something from a Provençal crèche. Pilgrims approach via the grand "Louis XIV Staircase"—the very steps the Sun King ascended on horseback in 1660. The esplanade is adorned with countless ex-votos, tangible witnesses to graces received across five centuries. Inside the Gothic church, two representations of Our Lady of Graces command attention: a statue at the rear of the choir (preserved through the Revolution) and a painting on the left wall—the very image Brother Fiacre saw in his vision. Louis XIV's black marble plaque honoring Anne of Austria is mounted on the wall, and a separate marker indicates where Brother Fiacre's heart is interred. Beautiful stained-glass windows recount the apparitions and the royal visit. A bas-relief of Saint Mary Magdalene, patron of Provence, by artist Isabelle Quilton, reminds pilgrims of the region's apostolic roots. The Brothers of Saint John celebrate daily Mass and the Liturgical Hours, and exposition of the Blessed Sacrament is held throughout the day during the Jubilee year. The adjacent Foyer de la Sainte-Famille provides accommodation for pilgrims and hosts retreats, family sessions, and formation programs year-round. Address: 1785 Chemin de Notre-Dame, 83570 Cotignac, France GPS Coordinates: 43.5078, 6.1493 Google Maps: View on Google Maps What3Words: TO BE UPDATED

2. Monastery of Saint Joseph du Bessillon (Monastère Saint-Joseph du Bessillon)

Local Name (French): Monastère Saint-Joseph du Bessillon / La Font Saint-Joseph Dedication: Saint Joseph Website: saintjosephcotignac.com Description / Highlights: Three kilometers north of Notre-Dame de Grâces, on the wooded slopes of Mont Bessillon, stands the monastery where Saint Joseph appeared in 1660. The Romanesque-style chapel, completed in 1663, is built directly over the miraculous spring—pilgrims can drink from Saint Joseph's water to this day, as countless have done since Gaspard Ricard first lifted that boulder. The striking white stone monastery beside the chapel was designed by the renowned architect Fernand Pouillon in the final years of his life. Its cloister opens onto a magnificent panorama of the Bessillon mountain. Since 2019, the Benedictine Sisters of Mater Dei have resided here, maintaining the monastic tradition of prayer that began when their predecessors arrived from Algeria in 1977. The chapel is open to the public for the seven daily offices sung in Gregorian chant; the monastery proper remains cloistered. Above the chapel entrance, words from the prophet Isaiah welcome the thirsty pilgrim: Haurietis aquas in gaudio de fontibus Salvatoris—"You will draw water with joy from the springs of the Savior." Address: 5248 Chemin de Saint-Joseph, 83570 Cotignac, France GPS Coordinates: 43.5328, 6.1188 Google Maps: View on Google Maps What3Words: TO BE UPDATED

🕯️ Annual Feast Days & Celebrations

March 19 – Solemnity of Saint Joseph Monastery of Saint Joseph du Bessillon. The principal feast day draws thousands of pilgrims to the site where Saint Joseph appeared, with solemn Mass and veneration at the miraculous spring. August 10-11 – Anniversary of the Apparitions of Our Lady Sanctuary of Notre-Dame de Grâces. The highlight of the sanctuary's liturgical year, commemorating the 1519 apparitions to Jean de la Baume with processions, special Masses, and candlelit vigils—the heart of Cotignac's 500-year pilgrimage tradition. June 7 – Anniversary of Saint Joseph's Apparition Monastery of Saint Joseph du Bessillon. Commemorating the 1660 apparition to Gaspard Ricard. First weekend of July – Pilgrimage of Fathers Some 2,000 men walk to Cotignac in one of France's most significant gatherings of Catholic fathers. Founded in 1977 by Jean-Louis Bouzereau, this pilgrimage will mark its 50th anniversary in 2026 and has inspired similar pilgrimages across Europe and in the United States.

🛏️ Where to Stay

Foyer de la Sainte-Famille 📍 Address: Chemin Notre-Dame, 83570 Cotignac, France 🌐 Website: nd-de-graces.com/organiser-sejour The sanctuary's own pilgrim house, located just below Notre-Dame de Grâces, offers simple rooms in a prayerful atmosphere. Ideal for those seeking to participate fully in the life of the sanctuary. Guest Facilities at Saint Joseph Monastery 📍 Address: 5248 Chemin de Saint-Joseph, 83570 Cotignac, France 🌐 Website: saintjosephcotignac.com Limited accommodation for individual retreatants seeking silence and solitude near the Benedictine sisters. Lou Calen ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 📍 Address: 1 Cours Gambetta, 83570 Cotignac, France 🌐 Website: www.loucalen.com 🔗 Booking: Book on Booking.com Boutique hotel in a restored 18th-century mansion with pools and gardens. A 15-minute walk to the sanctuary. Hôtel La Falaise 📍 Address: Place de la Mairie, 83570 Cotignac, France Simple hotel in the heart of the village, beneath the dramatic tufa cliffs.

🚗 Getting There

By Air: The nearest major airports are Nice Côte d'Azur (100 km) and Marseille Provence (80 km). Toulon-Hyères airport is closer at 60 km. By Train: There is no direct train service to Cotignac. Take the TGV to Aix-en-Provence TGV (approximately 3 hours from Paris), then continue by bus or taxi (50 km, approximately 45 minutes). By Bus: Regional bus services connect Cotignac to Brignoles and other Var towns. Check Zou! regional transport for schedules. By Car: From Aix-en-Provence, take the A8 motorway toward Nice, exit at Brignoles, and follow signs to Cotignac (approximately 45 minutes). From Nice, allow approximately 1.5 hours via the A8. Free parking is available at both sanctuaries. Local Transport: The two sanctuaries are connected by a beautiful 3.5 km pilgrimage path through the forest—the traditional way to experience Cotignac. For those unable to walk, a road connects the sites.

📚 Further Reading

Books:

  • Patrick Verlinden, Cotignac: La présence vivante de Marie et de Joseph (Editions les 7 Collines, 2008) – Comprehensive illustrated guide to the sanctuaries and their history.
  • Mauricette Vial-Andru, Notre-Dame de Grâces Cotignac (Editions Clovis) – An accessible account of the apparitions for readers of all ages.
  • Patrick Verlinden, La Provence Chrétienne: Les Plus Beaux Sites (Editions les 7 Collines, 2005) – Places Cotignac within the broader context of Catholic Provence.

Articles & Online Resources:

🎥 Recommended Videos

🔗 Useful Links

💡 Nearby Pilgrimage Destinations

  • Basilica of Saint Mary Magdalene, Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume (25 km) – The largest Gothic church in Provence, housing the relics of Saint Mary Magdalene.
  • Grotto of Sainte-Baume (35 km) – The cave where Mary Magdalene is said to have spent her last thirty years in prayer and penance.
  • Notre-Dame du Laus (180 km) – Site of the 17th-century apparitions to Benoîte Rencurel.

✝️ Inspiration

"God, through the blessings that he wished to grant in honor of Saint Joseph, sought to make indivisible in the devotion of the faithful the two holy persons whom he had joined together on earth for the mystery of our salvation."
  • Bishop of Fréjus, January 31, 1661, upon recognizing the apparition of Saint Joseph at Cotignac

Whether you come as a devoted pilgrim seeking the intercession of the Holy Family or as a curious traveler drawn by Provence's beauty and history, Cotignac offers something profound. Here, where Mary appeared to a woodcutter and Joseph to a thirsty shepherd, the graces that gave France its Sun King continue to flow—from the spring on Mont Bessillon, and from the sanctuary that has welcomed the faithful for over five hundred years.

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For the most current information on Mass times, confession schedules, and pilgrimages, please contact the sanctuaries directly or visit their official websites.