The Catholic Pilgrim's Guide to Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume, France

Home to the relics of Saint Mary Magdalene, this major pilgrimage site features a Gothic basilica where pilgrims venerate the remains of the Apostle to the Apostles.

🏞️ Description

Saint‑Maximin‑la‑Sainte‑Baume lies in the heart of Provence—a charming medieval town surrounded by olive groves and vineyards, nestled beneath the limestone Sainte‑Baume massif. The town exudes Provençal character with its narrow streets, bustling weekly markets, plane-tree-lined squares, and sweet lavender fragrance. At its spiritual core stands the Basilique Sainte‑Marie‑Madeleine, constructed between 1295 and 1532 to house the remains of Saint Mary Magdalene, whose relics were discovered here in 1279 by Charles II of Anjou. Regarded as "Christianity's third vault" after Rome and Jerusalem, her skull rests in a bulletproof reliquary in the crypt. The nearby Grotto of Sainte‑Baume, venerated as Mary Magdalene's place of penance, draws pilgrims who climb to this mountain sanctuary for prayer and Mass. The basilica and grotto together create a meaningful pilgrimage experience of repentance, healing, and spiritual renewal, deeply rooted in Provence's medieval and Marian traditions.

Basilica Sainte-Marie-Madeleine, St Maximin la St Baume

Short Names: Basilica of Mary Magdalene, St‑Maximin Basilica Local Name: Basilique Sainte‑Marie‑Madeleine

  • Highlights:
  • Largest Gothic church in Provence (73 m long, 43 m wide, 29 m high)
  • Houses Mary Magdalene’s skull and jaw reliquary; four sarcophagi in crypt
  • Magnificent 18th‑century organ and Gothic choir stalls, altarpieces by Antoine Ronzen
  • Became a Minor Basilica in 2017
  • Site Details:
  • Address: Place de l’HĂ´tel de Ville, 83470 Saint‑Maximin‑la‑Sainte‑Baume
  • GPS: 43.4528° N, 5.8634° E
  • What3Words: https://w3w.co/gently.withstand.umbrella
  • Google Maps: Link

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