Lets Get Spiritual

Your exploration of Marseille’s time-old Christian heritage begins at Saint-Victor’s Abbey, offering panoramic views over the city’s Vieux-Port. Founded in the 5th century by a monk named John Cassian, and located on the site of a former quarry whose stone blocks were used to build the ancient port, it is among the oldest Christian buildings in France. A quintessential symbol of Marseille, Notre-Dame-de-la-Garde Basilica, locally nicknamed “The Good Mother”, stands proudly over the city and port. The work of architect Henri-Jacques Espérandieu, completed in 1864, its Romano-Byzantine style is an apt reminder of Marseille’s strategic location at the gateway to the East. Between the Panier and Joliette quarters lies the impressive Cathédrale de la Major. Its construction, which began in 1852, lasted no less than 40 years.

Famed for its impressive Roman ruins, now a UNESCO World Heritage site, Arles has also profoundly marked the Christian history of Provence. From the 3rd century onwards, the city gained influence thanks to the work of Bishop Saint Trophimus. A jewel of Romanesque art, Saint-Trophime cathedral and its 12th-century cloister – also on the UNESCO World Heritage list – are adorned with distinctive carved columns and capitals depicting scenes from the Old and New Testaments. In the heart of Camargue, Les Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer is a foremost place of pilgrimage and Christian traditions: it was here that saints Mary Magdalene, Mary Jacobe and Mary Salome landed in the 1st century, after fleeing the Christian persecutions in Palestine. The fortified church of Notre-Dame-de-la-Mer, gazing out over the vast wild expanses of Camargue, was built in the 12th century on the site of a chapel dedicated to the Saints.

From the heights of its rocky spur, Gordes, one of “France’s Most Beautiful Villages”, is a genuine jewel of the Luberon. Its cobbled streets, dry stone houses and spectacular views over the valley offer the perfect Provençal decor. A few kilometres away, the Provençal Colorado in Rustrel unveils an astonishing landscape of flamboyant orange hues, forged by the old ochre quarries. The spectacle continues in Roussillon, another iconic Luberon village, where the ochre trail and Okhra ecomuseum tell the fascinating tale of this natural pigment. The voyage heads skywards at the Astronomy Centre in Saint-Michel-l’Observatoire, inviting you to marvel at the cosmos to your heart’s content. Last but not least, Salagon Priory and its specialist gardens in Mane are the perfect place for a cultural and botanical break, while La Caramelerie promises a delicious taste of childhood…

Part of the old county of Comtat Venaissin, a property of the Popes from 1229 to 1791, the historic town of Carpentras is also home to France’s oldest synagogue still in use, built in the 14th century then rebuilt in the late 18th century on the ruins of the original building. Inside, visitors will discover a prayer hall adorned with a Baroque decor of columns and faux marble. The ground floor harbours the building’s oldest features, including the ritual baths and two bakeries. The white stone hilltop village of Gordes, in the heart of the Luberon Regional Nature Reserve, is home to a gem of Provençal Cistercian art: Notre-Dame de Sénanque Abbey. Surrounded by lavender fields, the abbey features a distinctive Romanesque architecture, with a gentle, refined silhouette. Last but not least, Cavaillon’s former synagogue, now a Jewish Museum, showcases many religious objects and manuscripts bearing witness to the lives of the “Pope’s Jews”.

Nestled in the inland countryside of the Var area, in Provence Verte, the village of Le Thoronet is steeped in a peaceful atmosphere. You’ll find another masterpiece of Cistercian art here: Thoronet Abbey, erected in 1146, famed for its harmonious, minimalist architectural style and remarkable acoustics. The abbey has inspired generations of architects, including Le Corbusier, Fernand Pouillon, John Pawson and Tadao Ando. Tucked away in the heart of the Sainte-Baume massif, Saint Mary Magdalene’s cave is a major Christian place of pilgrimage. It was here, at this very moving site, that the Saint chose to withdraw from the world for over 30 years. Her relics, including her skull, are displayed inside the impressive Sainte-Marie-Madeleine Basilica in the nearby town of Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume. Tomorrow, you’ll be spending your last day in Marseille – a great opportunity to enjoy a last glimpse of Notre-Dame de la Garde Basilica, standing guard over this city founded by Ancient Greeks.