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Legends and traditions of Provence
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Legends and traditions of Provence

Between the fantastic animals, the sacred springs and the veneration of the saints, the tales and legends in Provence are legion. Each tradition refers to stories that appeal to the imagination. These different french legends allow you to discover and rediscover the southern region from a new perspective. Let yourself be surprised by the magic and enchantment that make Provence an exceptional place in France.

The Tarasque of Tarascon

The Tarasque is a Provençal folkloric creature similar to a dragon. This mythological creature is said to have given its name to the town of Tarascon. Every year, the Tarasque is celebrated during popular festivals in which young and old can discover the origin of this myth thanks to mediaeval associations. Parents and children can thus learn more about this Provençal monster. This major event is considered by UNESCO as part of the oral and intangible heritage of humanity. Since 2019, the Tarasque of Tarascon has been listed as an intangible cultural heritage in France.

The Tarasque of Tarascon

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Une publication partagée par Bert Muller (@bertmulphoto)

The Coulobre, the Vaucluse dragon

Like the Babau – a bloodthirsty creature that devours children – the Coulobre is a fantastic animal resembling a dragon. According to legend, it haunted the Vaucluse fountain and terrified the inhabitants of the village at night. Saint Véran, the bishop of Cavaillon, is said to have miraculously chased this mystical beast out of the river Sorgue, which migrated to the Alps to die. The statue of the Coulobre can be seen under the porch of the church of Saint-Véran, the place of its last earthly passage.

The Coulobre, the Vaucluse dragon

The Golden Goat legend

The legend of the golden goat was widespread in the country at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries. However, it remained confined to the territory of Provence. The golden goat is a fabulous animal with golden fur, horns and hooves. As the guardian of legendary treasures, its history is linked to the Saracen occupation – partial or temporary – of Provence during the High Middle Ages. The king of the Moors and his subjects are said to have hidden a fortune in the Alpilles, hoping to find it later, but none of these men ever returned. According to the legend, only the goat witnessed the location of the treasure hidden by the Saracens. The only way to access the loot would be to tame the mischievous animal.

The Golden Goat legend

Theopolis, city of God lost in Haute-Provence

North of Sisteron, in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, the mystery of the City of God persists. On a rock face overlooking the path is an inscription dating from the beginning of the 5th century. It speaks of a place called Theopolis which was made impassable by Claudius Postumus Dardanus and his wife, Naeuia Galla. This engraving mentioning this divine place remains to this day enigmatic. No remains relating to Theopolis have been discovered by archaeologists.

Theopolis, city of God lost in Haute-Provence

The Sainte-Baume forest, between nature and legends

The Sainte-Baume forest – covering more than 2,000 hectares – is located on the Sainte-Baume massif between the Bouches-du-Rhône and the Var. It combines a wonderful ecosystem with an intense history, which makes it particularly exceptional. According to legend, Mary Magdalene ended her life here after being converted by Christ. This sacred forest is home to great natural and cultural riches. The fauna is very rich in mammals and birds. As for the flora, this state forest has a very wide variety of flowers and trees.

The Sainte-Baume forest, between nature and legends

The Black Madonna of Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer

The Black Madonna is a saint venerated by the Gypsies, located in Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer. Built next to the mouth of the Petit-Rhône, the Church of Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer bears witness to a very lively tradition in Provence, that of the arrival of three biblical Marys by sea after the Passion of Christ. It is also the emblematic place of the pilgrimage of the travellers. For a whole week, Travellers from France, Europe and elsewhere settle in the streets and on the seashore to venerate their saint, Sara the Black. The statue of this Virgin is placed in the crypt of the church, to the right of the altar. Maid or Queen? Today, the story of Sara is still an enigma that does not seem to be solved.

The Black Madonna of Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer

The relics of Mary-Magdalene in Provence

According to Provençal tradition, Mary Magdalene, Martha, Lazarus and their companions arrived by boat in Gaul, at Sainte-Marie-de-la-Mer, after the resurrection of Christ. Forced to flee Jewish persecution and exile, Mary Magdalene found refuge in the Sainte-Baume cave where she spent her days in prayer. The relics of Mary Magdalene were found in 1279 by Charles II of Anjou. For seven centuries, these relics have been under the protection of the Dominican order, which watches over the cave. In the crypt of the basilica, it is possible to admire the skull of the wife of Jesus, displayed in an imposing golden reliquary weighing 150 kg. Every year, this relic is shown to the public in procession.

The relics of Mary-Magdalene in Provence

The provençal creche

Invented in the 18th century, the Provençal creche is a Christmas nativity scene featuring santons – traditional characters from Provence – and inspired by the life of the villagers. Handmade, the real santon – from the Provençal “santoun” (little saint) – is made of clay and takes on a human form with a character, an appearance and a social rank. Each santon represents an inhabitant of a Provençal village who is heading towards the crèche (the shepherd, the doctor, the baker, the fishmonger, etc.). This tradition is still very present in most of the well-known places in Provence (Avignon, Marseille, Aix-en-Provence, Roussillon, Luberon…), and more particularly in the Bouches-du-Rhône. The first traditional creche in France was built in 1775 in Marseille. Nowadays, the Provençal creches are installed in early December until Epiphany, when the Three Wise Men join the other santons.

The provençal creche

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